Dr. David R. Selner

David died on October 25, 2024 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born August 31, 1951 to Raymond and Marian (Blaha) Selner. He grew up on a Kewaunee County, Wisconsin Holstein dairy farm that has been in the family since 1872. In 1969 he graduated second in his class from Denmark High School. As a youth he was active in 4-H and FFA with his biggest accomplishment being a member of the high team and the High Individual in the National 4-H Judging Contest at the Chicago International Show in 1969. Selner attended the University of Wisconsin Madison and was involved in leadership roles in the Ag Student Council and Saddle & Sirloin Club. David was very proud of being one of the founders of the Badger Dairy Club, an officer and was the first yearbook editor. He was also a member of the university dairy judging team. Selner graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BS, MS and a PHD in Dairy Science. During these years he helped coach the university judging team and served as a teaching assistant for numerous courses. 

Dr. Selner has spent most of his career in the genetics and breeding side of the dairy industry. He has held positions in sire analysis, young sire sampling, mating programs, and VP of Genetic Procurement. He was instrumental in starting the first MOET program in the United States. Additionally, he has had various A.I. marketing and advertising roles throughout the United States and in foreign countries, developing marketing brochures & advertising media. He has presented seminars on genetics for numerous organizations around the world including 27 different countries. He has published genetic articles in several major dairy industry and breed publications. Selner has served as a genetic consultant for all the U.S. dairy breed associations and numerous foreign breeding companies. Dr Selner is an accomplished dairy cattle judge for all breeds and has judged major shows in the United States (Associate Judge at NAILE 2X and Junior Show at the Pennsylvania All American) and in foreign countries (Belgium, Germany, Dominican Republic, and Honduras). Selner judged numerous county fairs and regional breed shows as well. 

Dr. Selner served as the Superintendent of the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging contest for over 30 years. While superintendent he selected the first female officials for the judging contest and added the Red and White breed to the contest. He also served as an official judge at numerous other state & national dairy cattle judging judging contests. Dr. Selner loved to educate and work with dairy youth. Dr. Selner was one of the founders of the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, served on the first Board of Directors and created the operational framework of the contest. 

Selner served on the World Dairy Expo Cattle Exhibitors committee for over 30 years and was chairman of the dairy committee for 4 years. During his leadership tenure the WDE Show Ring Code of Ethics was developed and implemented. The WDE Post Secondary Dairy Judging contest was also initiated. David served as the official WDE dairy cattle show announcer for over 25 years. He was the lone announcer for all seven WDE breed shows for many years, the only announcer to ever achieve this task. David received the Friend of Expo Award in 1995. Dr. Selner also served as an announcer at numerous cattle shows throughout Wisconsin and in other states. 

Selner had been very involved in National Dairy Shrine serving as a board member for 6 years and President in 2002. David has also served as the Executive Director of the National Dairy Shrine from 2008 to 2021. Through his leadership the number of NDS scholarships were increased and numerous advancements in technology and educational displays were completed at the National Dairy Shrine Museum. He transformed the museum exhibits from slide projectors to video monitors and photo albums to digitized photo accessible files. He also created a video library of historical biographies and did over 100 interviews to add to this unique history for the National Dairy Hall of Fame. Dr. Selner was recognized with the 4-E Award from the National Dairy Shrine in 2007.

In his retirement Selner has been busy documenting the history of Czech immigrants to northeast Wisconsin. Following his ancestors from Europe to the farms and villages of today. He has also been very active in archiving information on his local church which was founded in 1864 and is listed on the national historic register. He was very proud of his heritage and believed that knowing your history was important. David dedicated his life to service in service to his community and the dairy industry. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Marian Selner, his sister Ruth Selner, grandparents Steve and Rose (Stodola) Selner and Victor and Mary (Jisa) Blaha. David is survived by his sister Susan, sister Mary Rose (Gerald Kudick) and brother Steven (Kari Duescher). He is further survived, by 5 nieces and nephews: Karen Tineo, Greg Kudick, Michael (Shannon) Kudick, Emily Selner (Taylor Fritsch) and Madeline Selner and numerous cousins. 

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Bellin Oncology and Froedtert Hospital for their compassionate care. Family and friends may gather on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Cotter Funeral Home, 536 County Road R, Denmark with a prayer service to begin the evening at 4:00pm and visitation after until 7:00pm. Visitation will continue on Thursday, at St. Therese Catholic Parish, St. Lawrence Site, N2085 County Road AB, Denmark (Stangelville), from 9:00 am until 10:45, with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00am. Burial will take place in the church cemetery following Mass. 

In lieu of flowers please send your memorial donations to your 4-H, FFA, or Junior Dairy Breed Association scholarship programs or to the Friends of St. Lawrence Inc. Foundation.