Iowa Ag Connection - Honorary Master Pork Producer Recognized

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Honorary Master Pork Producer Recognized
Iowa Ag Connection - 02/10/2016

This Honorary Master Pork Producer Award Recipient is no stranger to the Pork Industry or the Master Pork Producers - as he is a past President. Tom Grady has been in the Animal Health Industry serving in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, and Wisconsin either as a sales rep or regional manager.

A native of Iowa, his journey began in a Vet Clinic, working his way through college at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1978, after managing a feedlot for a year, he signed on with UpJohn Animal Health, moved to South Dakota and began to explore his first territory. Later he would transition into Sales Training, Coaching and Management. When Upjohn was bought by Pfizer, he flexed to the Distribution side of business and was hired by Nelson Laboratory as their Sales Manager and Trainer. He has enjoyed his last nine years with Boehringer Ingelheim as a Regional Manager, a Mentor to many and is currently a Senior Sales Representative in the same South Dakota region he began in 38 years ago.

While quick to share a good joke or hilarious story - you definitely want him on your team to tackle the tough industry challenges of today. Drawing from years of expertise, extensive network and commitment, he will strive to ensure a "win-win" end-result in Swine Farm Management.

To list awards, volunteer opportunities, special boards or his contributions to the industry over the years would be countless and so inappropriate - inappropriate because his passion has never been about "him" and "always" about his producers. His hard work and technical skills can only be surpassed by his unwavering belief in relationships - addressing his cherished "business partners" by individual name.

To quote a producer of twelve years: "Every salesman has a product to sell. Tom takes the time to listen to me, analyze my unique situation, understand my need - and then provides a solution to MY challenges vs pushing HIS product. He genuinely demonstrates care and concern. He builds "business accounts" into personal relationships."

To quote a colleague, hired and mentored by our honoree, "Tom broke the BI culture mold and stuck his neck out to hire young reps. He is so trustworthy, has gone the extra mile to mentor us and has believed in so many us young Rep's. He has taught us all very well that business comes and goes - but no matter what - stay close to the customer. This is not only great advice for our job but also in our personal lives with friendships. He has patience, a "calm" and a unique ability to remain focused on the producer no matter the circumstance. If you look around the Animal Health Industry and count the number of people that Tom has hired, trained, worked along side of and/or assisted....it is amazing the impact he has had. His trainings, teachings and lessons on a professional and personal level is what I hope to model when I get the chance to mentor others. Tom is one hell of a guy."

Tom's family includes wife-Judy, son-Christopher and daughter-MaKayla. In his leisure time, you will find Tom smoking pork ribs on the Traeger Grill, at the lake fishing, at Lambeau cheering on his beloved Green Bay Packers or just in the garage"tinkering".

The SD Master Pork Producers organization is comprised of allied industry members who have the goals of recognizing outstanding pork producers and promoting pork production in SD, as well as providing scholarships at South Dakota State University for young people pursuing a career in some facet of pork production.

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