Dan Sivesind named Honorary Member of Dairy Science Club at Iowa State University

Dan Sivesind of Waukon was named an Honorary Member of the Dairy Science Club at Iowa State University (ISU) at the Club's annual banquet held in Ames Sunday, March 7. Sivesind is a 1982 graduate of Waukon High School and 1986 ISU graduate, and his former high school and college classmate, Waterville native Brad Fossum - a Dairy Program Coordinator for Select Sires in the Lodi, WI area, performed the initial introduction at the banquet.
Attending the banquet on Sivesind's behalf were his wife of 22 years, Jane, and their four children, Leeta (17), Lars (16), Landon (13) and Leslie (12), his parents, Frank and Carol Sivesind of Waukon, his sister, Peggy Sivesind, Wendy Waldron and Larry Stott, Dick and Jean Roggensack, and Brad and Lynn Fossum.
Also attending the banquet from the Waukon area were Merlin and Becky Gesing, whose daughter, Hannah, is secretary of the ISU Dairy Science Club, and Marlene Palmer, whose son, Aaron, is past president of the Dairy Science Club and was Master of Ceremonies for the banquet.
Dan Sivesind was born in Waukon and raised on his family’s registered Guernsey farm - Prairie Moon Guernseys of Waukon. He began showing cattle at an early age and was also involved with judging beginning in 4-H and FFA. Sivesind graduated from Iowa State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Science. While at Iowa State he was active in the Dairy Science Club and the Dairy Judging team. One highlight was being a member of the winning team at the Harrisburg contest in 1984. While at ISU, Dan lived on the University's dairy farm and worked there to help pay for his tuition.
Upon graduation, he was employed at 21st Century Genetics, and worked there over the next two years. For the past 21 years, he has been employed by Prairie State Select Sires as a Dairy Programs Coordinator. His responsibilities include linear evaluation for SMS mating program and herd consultant for sire selection. Furthermore, he works closely with herds on the PGA young sire sampling program to monitor records, evaluate progeny, and coordinate daughter photos.
Sivesind has also served as an official Classifier for the Ayrshire Association the past 14 years and the Red & White Dairy Cattle Association. His employment with Select Sires has allowed him to see a large number of cows and dairies all across the United States. “My greatest reward from working in the dairy industry has been the many wonderful people I’ve been privileged to work for and become friends with,” he commented.
Sivesind has been involved in numerous organizations, including the District I Guernsey Association, the Iowa Guernsey Breeders Association, the American Guernsey Association, and the Iowa Holstein Association. He has served as a 4-H club leader and county dairy judging team coach for over 20 years. He has enjoyed assisting area 4-H and FFA youth prepare for state and national competitions, as well as college teams, hosting many judging workouts at Prairie Moon Guernseys.
In addition to coaching, Sivesind has judged for numerous county fairs, regional shows, as well as state shows over the years. He has served as an official judge for 4-H contests, local and state FFA contests, Guernsey and Ayrshire contests, as well as the Post Secondary Collegiate Contest at World Dairy Expo. He has also served as an official judge for All American Contests in the Guernsey and Ayrshire breeds.
For his years of service to the dairy industry, Sivesind has been awarded several honors, including Honorary Chapter FFA degree, Distinguished Service to the Dairy Industry Award-Allamakee County, and SMS evaluator of the year for Select Sires.
As a lifetime member of Zalmona Presbyterian Church, Sivesind has served on the cemetery committee, as deacon, and is currently serving as elder. Over the years he has enjoyed watching many ball games and showing cattle with his family at county, state, and national levels. Three of the past four years have resulted in All American nominations. One of two nominations this year has just been named Jr. All American Fall Calf.