The CentralStar Cooperative board of directors recently announced Randy Nigh of Viroqua, Wis., as the 2021 Pioneer Award recipient. Established in 1977, the Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who, through selfless and dedicated service and leadership, have provided the cooperative and its members greater prosperity.
“Randy was a great asset to the cooperative during the many years he served on the board of directors,” shared Steve Abel, CentralStar board vice president. “His understanding of the business history of the cooperative, along with his great knowledge of genetics, made him a valuable board member.”
A member of the CentralStar Board of Directors for a period of 32 years, Nigh served as president for seven years and vice president for two. Additionally, Nigh was a director on the Select Sires Inc. board band was a member of the Holstein sire committee. Nigh has been actively involved in his community and dairy industry, including roles with National Holstein Association, Vernon County Holstein Association, his local township, and the Viroqua FFA in Viroqua.
A family operation, Nigh, and his brother Robert, own Lirr Farm, a 1,000‐acre dairy, beef, and cash‐crop farm. Lirr Farm is recognized across the world for being the breeder of 7HO9264 Lirr Drew DEMPSEY, a
Select Sires Showcase™ sire. The farm’s passion for registered Holsteins runs deep, and to date, Lirr Farm has earned the Holstein Association’s Progressive Breeder Award for 20 years and the Progressive mGenetics Award for 30.