Gene Wiseman
Gene Wiseman was born in Shelbina, Missouri and grew up in Shelby County, living on several small farms over his youth. Gene and his father farmed land and raised hogs to pay for Gene’s college, and at one time farmed up to 1,000 acres.
During his collegiate years, Gene attended the University of Missouri to pursue a degree in Animal Husbandry. He continued to work on the family farm, but gained experience working with sheep and cattle through programs with the University of Missouri. Gene also earned a master’s in business administration from William Woods University.
Gene has spent his entire working career promoting the agriculture industry and specifically dairy for the past ten years. Gene continued to manage the family farm after he moved to Jefferson City in the early 1990s. He began working for the Missouri Department of Agriculture in 1998 for Ag Business Development as manager of domestic and international marketing programs.
Since becoming Executive Secretary of the Missouri State Milk Board in 2007, Gene Wiseman has achieved the upmost respect from his counterparts throughout the United States’ and Missouri’s dairy industry. From working with Amish dairy producers, to automated milking systems, to processing plants of all sizes, Gene works diligently to address concerns of the dairy industry.
Within the dairy industry, Gene has served on several committees for multiple organizations. He is a member of the executive committee of the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipment, past president of National Association of Dairy Regulatory Officials (NADRO), and Missouri’s representative at the Pacific Southwest Region Milk Seminar. Gene is also a member of the Missouri Dairy Products Association, Missouri Dairy Growth Council, and Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors.
In his letter of support, Chris Hackman, General Manager of Prairie Farms Dairy/Central Dairy Division said, “Gene is instrumental in keeping Missouri compliant with PMO (Pasteurized Milk Ordinance) regulations and interstate milk shipping regulations through his delegation on the IMS National Conference. Interstate shipping is crucial to the dairy industry opening a larger customer base thus allowing us to grow the dairy industry in Missouri…I cannot think of a better candidate for the Meritorious Service Award than Gene Wiseman.”
Jim Anderson, Executive Director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, said “I have known and worked with Gene for eighteen years and have always found him to project a genuinely warm and cheerful attitude to his clients. Also, he’s willing to take on difficult projects and works through them with remarkable patience and admirable tact…I have an enormous respect for his dedication to the milk industry and the Missouri State Milk Board.”
Gene is a member of First Baptist Church of Jefferson City where he is a deacon and member of the budget committee. Gene is also a member of the RMI board, the Simplicity and Allis-Chalmers Garden Tractor Club, and has been a member of various civic clubs including the Shelbyville Moonshiners, Shelbyville Civic Club, Shelbyville Jaycees, and committee member for the Shelbyville Sheep Fest.
Gene was married to his wife, Linda, on January 16, 2010. Together they have four children: Erin Wiseman, Denise Wiseman, Elizabeth Sanders, and Adam Sanders with wife Carly and grandchildren Iris and Abe.