1. What do you do at All West /Select Sires, and how long have you been in this position?

I have been working for All West / Select Sires just over a year now and my official job title is A.I. Relief technician. However, besides doing relief A.I. work for local technicians in the Sunnyside area, I am also responsible for picking up supplies each week on Snoqualmie Pass and distributing them to other Select employees on the eastern side of Washington. Occasionally I also get the opportunity to assist Jamie Peth with inventory counts when they are needed from the east side.

2. When did you know you wanted to work for Select Sires?

Well working for Select Sires has been a dream job of mine ever since I met Bill VandeGraaf my freshmen year at Washington State University. Not only was I fascinated by what the company did at the time, I also was striving to pursue a career in Animal Genetics and A.I.

3. What is your favorite part about the job?

Hands down I would have to say the field work is my favorite. Learning to breed and determine a cow’s stage of gestation with just my hands is truly amazing. There is nothing like seeing a genetically advanced calf nine months down the road and knowing that you were a part of that phenomenon.

4. Where do you see yourself in the future with Select Sires?

I would really like to get trained in Select Mating Services (SMS) so I can offer that option to dairy producers in addition to breeding. I honestly am very happy with where I am at. I feel I am just so fortunate to be given this opportunity and it is difficult to put into words how much I love what I do.

5. What is your favorite breed of dairy cow to work with?

My favorite breed would have to be Jerseys. I love them! They’re very smart and very social with such big personalities. Plus their size makes them nice and easy to work with.

6. Have you ever learned to A.I. any other animals?

Yes! I actually know how to A.I. swine which I learned during my college years. If I ever got the chance, I would really like to learn how to A.I. horses as well.

7. Do you have a certain way to explain your job to others?

I’ve definitely had some interesting conversations with people when it comes to explaining what I do for a living. Besides the most obvious way, there really isn’t any other way. It’s taken me quite a while sometimes to explain the details that go into it, and their reactions are always the same, “wow!”

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