Jim Sipiorski named and Honoree of the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation
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EmailSipiorski worked to advance dairy genetics and was a tireless volunteer with dairy judging and dairy challenge.
Jim Sipiorski has spent his career serving dairy producers, supporting youth programs and strengthening the dairy industry through leadership and education. Although he was born and raised in northeast Wisconsin, Jim's work has had a significant influence on Michigan's dairy community for more than 40 years.
Jim began his career with Michigan Artificial Breeders Cooperative (MABC) in 1978. After working as a classifier with Holstein Association USA from 1989 to 1993, he returned to MABC, which later became NorthStar Cooperative and is now CentralStar Cooperative. Over the course of his career, he served as assistant dairy programs coordinator, sales representative, Director of Wisconsin Sales, and Director of A.I. Sales and Services beginning in 1999. He retired from CentralStar on Aug. 1, 2025.
Dairy judging has been a constant throughout Jim's life. Since 1981, he has worked with dairy judging contests at World Dairy Expo, beginning with the 4-H contest before assisting with the collegiate contest and later serving on the World Dairy Expo Board of Directors. He has also officiated the Michigan 4-H and FFA dairy judging contests for many years, served as master of ceremonies for numerous Michigan Holstein Association events, and announced dairy shows throughout Michigan.
Jim also helped organize the first North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, hosted in East Lansing, Michigan. He later served as the organization's national program chair from 2002 to 2007 and received the Dairy Challenge Founders Award in 2020 for his contributions to the program. At Michigan State University, he provided guest lectures in the Department of Animal Science’s dairy cattle genetics course on the rapidly evolving field of genomics from 2009 through 2023.
His service has included leadership roles with several agricultural organizations. Jim served on the organizing committee for the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC), serving as master of ceremonies for the event several times. Jim is a past president of both the National FFA Alumni Association and the Wisconsin FFA Alumni Association, a past member of the National FFA Sponsor Board, and a past chairman of the National Council for Agricultural Education. He and his wife, Sandy, are Lifetime Members of the Denmark FFA Alumni, Wisconsin FFA Alumni, and National FFA Alumni. Jim is also a 50-year member of the National Holstein Association and Wisconsin Holstein Association and remains an active member of the Michigan Holstein Association.
While Jim's accomplishments are extensive, they tell only part of the story. He is known for his integrity, steady leadership and willingness to help others. Colleagues and friends value his thoughtful approach, practical perspective and commitment to doing what is right. Even after moving back to Wisconsin, he has remained closely connected to Michigan's dairy industry and its youth programs.
Jim and Sandy have one daughter, Michelle, and lived in St. Johns, Michigan from 1999 to 2018. Today, Jim owns a few Registered Holsteins at T&H Dairy in Fowler, Michigan, as well as Quarter Horses at their home in Wausaukee, Wisconsin.
The Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation is honored to recognize Jim Sipiorski for his many years of service to Michigan's dairy industry and to agricultural youth.