David R. Selner, 73, of Denmark, Wis., died on October 25, 2024 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He grew up on a Kewaunee County, Wisconsin Holstein dairy farm that has been in the family since 1872. In 1969 he graduated second in his class from Denmark High School. As a youth he was active in 4-H and FFA with his biggest accomplishment being a member of the high team and the High Individual in the National 4-H Judging Contest at the Chicago International Show in 1969. Selner attended the University of Wisconsin Madison where he held leadership posts in the Ag Student Council and Saddle & Sirloin Club. Selner was proud of being one of the founders of the Badger Dairy Club and was an officer and the first yearbook editor. He was also a member of the university dairy cattle judging team. Selner earned BS, MS and a PHD degrees in dairy science.
Dr. Selner has spent most of his career in the genetics and breeding side of the dairy industry. He held positions in sire analysis, young sire sampling and mating programs, and sire procurement. He was instrumental in starting the first MOET program in the United States. Additionally, he has had various A.I. marketing and advertising roles throughout the United States and in foreign countries.
He has presented seminars on genetics in 27 different countries. He has published genetic articles in several major dairy industry and breed publications, including Holstein World. Selner has served as a genetic consultant for all the U.S. dairy breed associations and numerous foreign breeding companies. Dr Selner was an accomplished dairy cattle judge for all breeds and has judged major shows in the United States and internationally in Belgium, Germany, Dominican Republic, and Honduras. Selner judged numerous county fairs and regional breed shows as well.
Dr. Selner served as the Superintendent of the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging contest for over 30 years. While superintendent he selected the first female officials for the judging contest and added the Red and White breed to the contest. He also served as an official judge at numerous other state and national dairy cattle judging contests. He was one of the founders of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, serving on the first board of directors creating the operational framework of the contest.
Selner served on the World Dairy Expo Cattle Exhibitors committee for over 30 years and was chair for four years. During his tenure, the WDE Show Ring Code of Ethics was developed and implemented. The WDE Post Secondary Dairy Judging contest was also initiated. He was the official WDE dairy cattle show announcer for over 25 years. He was the lone announcer for all seven WDE breed shows for many years, the only announcer to ever achieve this task. He received the Friend of Expo Award in 1995. Dr. Selner also served as an announcer at numerous cattle shows throughout Wisconsin and in other states.
He was committed to National Dairy Shrine serving as a board member for six years and president in 2002. He was executive director from 2008 to 2021. Through his leadership the number of NDS scholarships were increased and many educational displays were added and others upgraded at the National Dairy Shrine Museum. He also created a video library of historical biographies and did over 100 interviews to add to this unique history for the National Dairy Hall of Fame. He was recognized with the 4-E Award from the Dairy Shrine in 2007.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and a sister. He leaves two sisters and a brother, nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services were October 31.
The family invites memorial contributions to 4-H, FFA, or Junior Dairy Breed Association scholarship programs or to the Friends of St. Lawrence Inc. Foundation.
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