The maroon and gold colors of the University of Minnesota are easily recognizable in the dairy industry as a respected and revered institution with an outstanding dairy science program. Equally recognizable is the name Les Hansen – distinguished teaching professor, longtime dairy cattle judging coach, geneticist and researcher at the University of Minnesota.
Cows and college
A dairy kid through and through, Hansen grew up milking registered Holsteins in southern Minnesota and enjoyed participating in the activities and events that came with owning registered cattle. When the time came to attend college, Hansen made the move to the Twin Cities and first pursued a degree in engineering before realizing that he “missed the cows” and transferred into animal science his sophomore year.
Following graduation, Hansen accepted a position with Midwest Breeders Cooperative – later GENEX – as the director of information and public relations. He wrote for the organization – press releases, annual reports and sire directories were just a few of the tasks Hansen worked on during his time there.
“I enjoyed [that position] a lot,” Hansen says. “I met a lot of influential people in the industry. After a couple of years, I realized all I was doing was writing and talking about what everyone else was doing – I decided I wanted to have part of the action.”
Wanting a piece of the action that is research – specifically in the genetics side of the industry – Hansen found his way to Iowa State University, where he attained his Ph.D. in animal breeding. An invitation from Fred Foreman, professor in charge of dairy science, to a monthly dairy science club meeting led to an assistant coaching position on the dairy judging team – an involvement that would follow him back to the University of Minnesota.
Advising
Hired two years before graduating with his Ph.D., Hansen never imagined heading back to the Twin Cities as a professor, but graciously fell into his new role with ease.
“It was kind of the ideal situation,” Hansen says. “I was told when I was hired that I was offered this position to work with the kids – of course the research had to be good, too.”
The traditions of the Iowa State Dairy Science Club followed Hansen to Gopher country as he started his role as adviser of the largest student-run organization on the Twin Cities campus.
“I’m unusual for an academic professor,” Hansen notes. “According to the Myers-Briggs personality test, I’m a 99 percent extrovert. That’s uncommon with professors – over 80 percent of people in this profession are introverts.”
It is obvious as Hansen rattles off names of past students and their current professions that he is passionate about those he teaches and coaches. His extroverted personality aids in building relationships that last a lifetime, though he credits much of the Gopher Dairy Club’s success to the students. With a smile in his voice, Hansen proudly recalls the fact that 40% of the Dairy Shrine’s scholarships in 2022 were awarded to Gopher Dairy Club students.
“Our club meets monthly; they’re highly professional and all academically inclined,” Hansen says. “Everyone knows everyone, everyone is mutually supportive. They have the luxury of finances through the Gopher Dairy Bar – which raised over 160,000 dollars in 12 days last year selling milk and milkshakes at the Minnesota State Fair.”
Earnings from the Gopher Dairy Bar are put back into the club for various events, including a senior trip to California each year for qualifying students.
Coaching and teaching
Though not directly affiliated with the Gopher Dairy Club, the University of Minnesota’s dairy judging team is coached by Hansen and has seen numerous national and regional placings over the years.
“If you make the investment of time and effort, you tend to do well,” Hansen says of the dairy cattle judging team. “Everybody likes to win, that keeps things going and I’m so proud of the way the kids encourage each other. It’s a very nurturing environment – everyone is positive and upbeat – there is no harshness to it.”
Each fall, Hansen travels Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa with his students to practice judging registered cattle. He truly loves coaching dairy cattle judging and teaching dairy cattle genetics.
Coached by Dr. Les Hansen, the University of Minnesota’s dairy judging team has seen numerous national and regional placings over the years. Pictured here is one of his teams at the 2015 World Dairy Expo contest. Team members included (left to right): Hansen, lead coach; Alicia Hiebert, alumni coach; Scott Ellinghuysen, alumni coach; Matthew Hanson, Minnesota; Eric Houdek, Minnesota; Nathan Donnay, Minnesota; and Vincent Migliazzo, California. Photo courtesy of World Dairy Expo.
“You can imagine my genetics colleagues giving me a bad time about coaching the dairy cattle judging team,” Hansen says. “As geneticists, our work is for the commercial side of the industry. Those types of cows don’t always fit perfectly with the cows that place high at the shows. I’ve never had a problem with that because there is so much educational outcome that comes from the judging. When breeding companies are looking to hire former students – they know that my students know cows and can talk cows – show cows or commercial cows. My students know that the show side is the fun hobby side that is part of our industry and the commercial cows are the bread and butter.”
Past students attribute a valuable education and successful career to Hansen’s dedication to his students.
“I have so much respect for Dr. Les Hansen,” says Crystal Sinn, University of Minnesota alumna. “His attitude, tenacity, his dedication and love for the University of Minnesota is unmatched. He is passionate and thoughtful and paved the way for so many opportunities for me – I’ll be forever grateful.”
“He has the gift to see talent and ability within students – even before they arrive at the college level – and encourages them to think, learn and challenge the status quo,” says Amy Loeschke, past student and colleague of Hansen. “He creates success, often through uncharted waters, by setting a high standard for himself and others and doing so with joy and an ever-positive perspective.”
Research
Hansen’s research in the dairy industry has varied slightly over the years but has always focused on one point: creating the most profitable cow. Studying fertility and profitability during his Ph.D. research to functionality traits in his early years at the University of Minnesota to extensive work in comparing purebred Holsteins with crossbred counterparts, Hansen has always been focused on the future of the dairy cow.
“It’s been interesting with my strong registered industry background and my lifelong devotion to registered breeds of dairy cattle that I’ve done so much work on crossbreeding,” Hansen says. “But really crossbreeding is about analyzing those functional traits: longevity, health, fertility. We’ve learned that crossbreeds get a boost from hybrid vigor above what comes from the individual breeds, and if that provided a wake-up call for some of the registered breeds; I think that’s OK.”
Grateful reflection
This year, Hansen adds the 2023 National Dairy Shrine Guest of Honor to his growing list of awards and recognitions.
“Humbled, surprised, honored, thrilled,” Hansen says of this honor. “This award means more to me than any other award I’ve received. I’m shocked – the National Dairy Shrine consists of educators, coaches, advisers, breeding companies, breed associations, registered breeders – those are my people. I just love the organization – the fact that this group would recognize me – it’s incredible.”
Hansen joins 80 other highly respected and revered individuals who have made outstanding accomplishments and contributions in the dairy industry and have been named a guest of honor by the National Dairy Shrine.
“Dr. Hansen is one of the most recognized dairy cattle geneticists in the world. His curious mind, willingness to take on complex and at times controversial subjects has helped to expand the mind of dairy cattle breeders around the globe,” says John Meyer, CEO of Holstein Association USA.
Hansen will receive the award at the Dairy Shrine’s Awards Banquet Monday, Oct. 2 in Madison, Wisconsin, at World Dairy Expo.
