The National Dairy Shrine announces the 2025 recipients of its prestigious Pioneer Award:
Dr. Joseph Lineweaver, the professional photographers of Agri-Graphics, the late Dr. David Selner, and the groundbreaking
geneticists Dr. Paul VanRaden and Dr. George Wiggans. This award honors individuals and teams whose lifelong contributions have shaped the future of the dairy industry.

The late Dr. David Selner was a visionary in genetics, education, and youth leadership. Raised on a Wisconsin Holstein farm, Dr. Selner held key roles in the artificial insemination industry, spearheading efforts in genetic evaluation, sire development, and global promotion of U.S. genetics. He helped launch the first Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) program and served as a genetic consultant to organizations across the globe. One letter of recommendation notes that although he was a Ph.D. geneticist, he had the gift of talking to breeders about good cows and breeding programs in a cowman’s language.

Beyond his technical achievements, Dr. Selner’s legacy lies in his passion for youth development and show ethics. He helped found the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge and served as superintendent of the National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest for many years. His voice became synonymous with World Dairy Expo, where he was announcer and ethics advocate.

Dr. Selner also played a significant role as Executive Director of National Dairy Shrine. During his nine-year tenure, he worked tirelessly to support grow membership in the the organization. He established new scholarships and expanded the reach of existing scholarships to serve more dairy industry youth. He was also committed to enhancing the experience at the National Dairy Shrine museum, working to digitize the museum’s historical archives, ensuring dairy history is accessible for generations to come.

Dr. Joseph Lineweaver built a legacy in reproductive physiology and embryo transfer. From his time as an Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech to his founding of Blue Ridge Embryos, Dr. Lineweaver advanced the science of semen handling and embryo transfer at a time when the technology was still in its infancy. His pioneering work led to the first registered Jersey embryo transfer offspring, and his efforts in developing industry standards and mentoring others have made a profound impact on the field. During his 12 years at Virginia Tech, Dr. Lineweaver authored or coauthored 126 papers and made over 124 invited presentations.

Lineweaver was also a passionate supporter of youth in the dairy industry, offering scholarships in his name and always making time to personally congratulate recipients. Known for his leadership roles in the American Embryo Transfer Association and the American Jersey Cattle Association, his contributions were instrumental in the growth of both organizations. A respected mentor and innovator, he has helped shape not only better cattle but also better people throughout his remarkable career. Even into his 90s, he has remained active in the dairy community, embodying the values of lifelong service and innovation.

The professional photographers of Agri-Graphics are collectively honored for revolutionizing the visual presentation of dairy cattle over five decades. Their skill in capturing the conformation and character of dairy animals brought marketing and genetic promotion to new heights. Their work helped breeders showcase cattle nationally and internationally, and their iconic images live on in breed publications, sale catalogs, and the memories of dairy families.

Many of the photographers are now retired, while some started their own cattle photography businesses. Agri-Graphics, founded by Danny Weaver in 1963 and later owned by Kathy DeBruin, starting in 1990, is recognized as a place where female photographers could make their mark, establishing the role of these photographers as significant contributors to the dairy industry. As the first female dairy cattle photographers in a male-dominated industry, Kathy DeBruin and Maggie Murphy helped pave a career path for so many talented women that followed at Agri-Graphics, including Julie DeLavergne, Cindy Taranto, Betty Crowell, Sylvia Cooper, Judy Black, Eileen DeBruin, Sonja Agrimson, Mary Lippert, Lisa Cooper Leach, Christine Putman, Susan Kelly, Cybil Fisher, Sarah Damrow and Beth Herges in addition to Jim Miller, Bruce Pickering, Craig Johnson, Fred Hall, Tom Pearson, Jim Fisher, and Bruce Kuehl.

As Agri-Graphics photographers, they were artists and analysts, crafting images that became industry benchmarks. They were known to take control of whatever was needed in order to get the perfect photo. As a result, their unofficial tagline became, “We don’t take pictures, we make them!”. Their impact is felt not only in marketing but also in the historical documentation of dairy excellence.

Dr. Paul VanRaden and Dr. George Wiggans are honored together for their unparalleled impact on dairy cattle genetics and genomic evaluation. This duo developed and implemented much of the U.S. system for genetic evaluation, enabling more accurate and efficient selection of elite dairy animals. Their work advanced traits like fertility, longevity, and calving ease, and their genomic selection models have doubled genetic progress in North America. Their individual accomplishments and contributions to dairy genetics are immeasurable, yet their names are rarely mentioned apart.

Combined, Dr. Wiggans and Dr. VanRaden have authored more than 500 publications. “For an entire generation of geneticists, the byline ‘Wiggans and VanRaden’ or ‘VanRaden and Wiggans,’ depending on the paper, has been iconic,” reflects John Cole, Senior VP

of Research and Development at PEAK and former Research Leader at USDA ARS. “It’s difficult to think of another pair of
animal breeders who were so influential as a team.”

Over careers that spanned decades at USDA’s Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, VanRaden and Wiggans revolutionized data processing and genetic modeling for dairy traits. Their work enabled tools like Net Merit indexing, genomic reliability, and the identification of lethal recessives. Admired for their mentorship and accessibility, they’ve inspired generations of scientists and breeders around the world with their collaborative spirit and deep commitment to improving dairy cattle and farm profitability.

The families and representatives of Dr. Lineweaver, the Agri-Graphics photographers, Dr. Selner, and Drs. VanRaden and Wiggans will receive the Pioneer Awards at the National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet on Monday, September 29, in Madison, Wisconsin. Their portraits will be permanently displayed in the Dairy Hall of Fame in Fort Atkinson. For more information, visit www.dairyshrine.org or contact info@dairyshrine.org.