1.
What is your name and where are you from?
Name: Ryan DeYoung
Hometown: Snohomish, Washington
2.
When did you start working for All West, what is your current title, and where do you work?
Start Date: July 13, 2005
Title: Professional A.I. Technician
Location: Snohomish County
3.
How did you get involved in the AI industry?
“When I was nine years old, I had my first cow in 4-H. I was involved in 4-H for many years and that is how I got started in agriculture and the bovine industry. After I graduated high school, I started working for a competitor company and moved to California to be a relief technician for them for about six months. I found the location and the company was not the best fit for me, so I contacted All West. I moved back to Washington and started off with a small breeding route. From there, I grew the route and I have been happy ever since!”
4.
Describe a typical day in your life on the job.
“I start my day at 5 o’clock in the morning in Stanwood, Washington. I start by walking all of the pens and applying tail paint to the cows. Different colors identify if the cow is pregnant or open, ready to breed. After I am done walking the pens, I go prepare the semen and my A.I. equipment, then breed the cows. It’s a daily job. The cows never stop. You never know how many cows you’ll have to breed in one day, so it’s always exciting.
You’re often the only person who sees the cows just about every day, so you have a responsibility to provide feedback to the dairyman, herdsman, or nutritionist if you see any issues. I do what I can to help everyone out.
I treat the dairyman’s dairy like it’s my operation. I have cows at home, as well, so I treat the dairyman’s cows as I do mine. I want the best for the cows and the dairyman. It’s what I can do as a breeder. It’s part of my daily life and it’s what matters to me.”
5.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?
“After I’m done breeding cows you can usually find me in a tractor making hay for my own cattle or doing custom work for other farmers in the area. I never get tired of the farm life and it’s what I’m passionate about.”
6.
If it was your choice, what unique name would you give our next best-selling bull?
PARLOR-KING
7.
What is your favorite part of your job?
“I enjoy breeding cows because I have the opportunity to work with the dairymen to improve their genetics and operation as a whole. Improving the next generation of cattle for our producers in quite an honor and very exciting. Also, to be a part of the “family” on each dairy, growing with them and growing myself keeps me going and it’s why I love breeding cows and doing the best I can to help the dairyman.
Specifically, I like working with All West/Select Sires because I always have support. You’re never the ‘Lone Ranger’. There is team work. If there is an issue you are not quite sure about or you want other opinions on, you can always ask a team member to help you out. It’s definitely a company you can grow in while improving yourself and helping others around you. It never ends. You always have that support.”
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