Bill Blakeslee
“Bill is and has been considered the Midwest expert as it relates to Federal Milk Market Order provisions, dairy industry statistical information, and has been consulted by most dairy industry leaders to obtain information on trends and directions in the dairy industry.”
This is the manner in which Gary Hanman, chief executive officer of Dairy Farmers of America -DFA- described Bill’s leadership role in the dairy industry. Hanman based his comments on his association with Bill as a coworker at Producers Creamery, Mid-America Dairymen, and DFA during Bill’s 30-plus year career.
John Wilson, another of Bill’s coworkers at DFA, seconds Hanman’s comments. “Bill earned a reputation as a renowned authority on Federal Order issues and national dairy policy. He was also a pioneer in working with other cooperatives and developing marketing agencies in common to enhance net income for dairy farmers,” Wilson said.
The Missouri Dairy Association endorsed Bill’s nomination for the Dairy Hall of Honors Leadership Award and noted “Bill is a favorite among south Missouri dairy farmers and is highly regarded by those who know him.”
Bill was born in 1939 at Monett, graduated from Springfield’s Central High School in 1957, received an undergraduate degree in agriculture from Southwest Missouri State University in 1962, and a masters in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri in 1964.
He married his wife Betty in 1962 and they have two children. Son Mike is a supervisor with American National Property and Casualty Company and daughter Julie is a middle school teacher.
Bill worked for a short time in the Federal Milk Market Administrator’s Office in St. Louis prior to joining Producers Creamery which later became Mid-America Dairymen, and now Dairy Farmers of America.
His first position in his 33-year career with the dairy cooperative was concerned with marketing and economics.
Along the way Bill served the cooperative as vice president of fluid milk marketing, member and public relations, government relations, planning, and economic analysis; chief executive officer of Mid-Am’s Southern Fluid Group; and ended his career as DFA corporate vice president at the time of his retirement in 1998. He continues to serve DFA as a consultant.
During his career Bill served on various committees of the National Milk Producers Federation.
Bill is an active community leader. He is an ordained minister for the Corner Stone Church, Springfield, and has been an enthusiastic booster of the Kickapoo High School’s athletic programs.
Bill now lives in Nixa, MO.