GenoSource LLC of Blairstown, Iowa, recently earned the 2025 Dairy First Award recipient, an annual honor recognizing a dairy operation’s commitment to milk quality and overall herd well-being presented by Boehringer Ingelheim.
First cousins Tim Rauen, Matt Simon and Kyle Demmer lead the daily operations at GenoSource. Started in 2014, GenoSource was created to further pursue the passion for quality genetics that was started by their grandfather, Joe Simon, who founded Farnear Holsteins.
Today GenoSource maintains a milking herd of 4,200 and a world-renowned genetics company, making them a powerhouse in milk production and both breeding and embryo programs. Eight families own the company -- Tim, Bill and Steven Rauen’s families; Matt, Tom and Rick Simon’s families; Pat Carroll’s family; and Kyle Demmer’s family. The families’ long-standing commitment to cow care, milk quality and continued investment in technology exemplifies why they have earned the recognition.
“We take great pride in the products we create for the end user,” said Tim Rauen, CEO of GenoSource. “Whether it’s the milk or cheese, or selling semen around the world, we’re producing the best products to the best of our abilities, and feel really proud of what we’re doing.”
The foundation for GenoSource’s success lies in a philosophy passed down through generations.
Matt Simon, CFO of GenoSource, said, “Our grandpa never wanted to use the cheapest bull — he wanted to use the best bull."
That principle still guides the farm’s strong focus on quality production and genetics.
Rauen said, “We don’t want to milk just any cow, we want to milk the best cow."
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