A Wisconsin native who went on to lead the National Holstein Association for the past two decades will be recognized this fall with the National Dairy Shrine's highest award. John M. Meyer is the 2021 recipient of the NDS Guest of Honor Award at this year's World Dairy Expo in Madison.
Meyer was born and raised in Fort Atkinson. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, he became director of sales for NASCO for nine years, and then worked for Terry Printing until 1996.
He first held leadership positions with the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association before jointing Holstein Association USA. In his roles he has had an enormous, positive impact throughout the dairy industry. At both groups, he leveraged his astute business acumen and people skills to create significant financial turnarounds, while introducing new programs and being a strong advocate of breed associations and other dairy organizations working together for the benefit of all dairy producers.
In 2001, Meyer was appointed CEO/Executive Secretary of Holstein Association, the world's largest dairy breed organization. At that time, the organization had lost money on operations for 13 consecutive years. In just two years under his leadership, the organization began to show a profit of $200,000 and has remained financially sound ever since.
John's father, Eugene C. Meyer, was also a recipient of the Dairy Shrine Guest of Honor award in 1986--thus making them the first father and son dual in history to have been awarded the honor. They also both served as president of the Dairy Shrine during their careers.
Categories: Wisconsin, Livestock, Dairy Cattle