Jerry King

Dairy Farmers of America - Inducted in 2008

Jerry King believes in the cooperative way of business. For more than fifty years he has been an active cooperative leader, serving on the board of directors for Mid-America Dairymen from 1979 to 1998 and as Chairman of the Central Council, Division 3 for Dairy Farmers of America. In this position he provided excellent leadership in the transition to bring four major dairy cooperatives together to form the largest dairy cooperative in the U.S.

Jerry's leadership in DFA soon spilled over to other related dairy organizations. He was elected to the Kansas City Dairy Council, to the Mid-West Dairy Promotion Board, and to the United Dairy Industry Association. 

Jerry is well known as an almost a non-stop talker. But when it's time to take care of business Jerry listens to other people's ideas as well as sharing his own thoughts on the issue. He has the ability to look at both sides of an issue and is able to bring the board together to benefit the entire co-op.

Jerry's true leadership ability is evidenced by the fact that he has been elected chairman of numerous organizations and moved up the leadership ladder to national levels.  In addition to his leadership, Jerry has extraordinary "cow sense".  His ability to recognize good quality dairy cattle allowed him to develop a premiere dairy herd, and also to serve in other capacities outside cooperatives; such as, President of the Missouri Holstein Association, board of directors for the National Holstein Association, the National Beef Board, and as a director for the World Dairy Expo.

exemplary leadership, an outstanding record of civic service, and enthusiastic, life long advocacy on behalf of dairy farmers and cooperatives