Posted: 08.06.2010

Agribusiness leader and President of Agri-Management Group, Alton Block, died on Thursday evening in Madison.
 

Block was one of the first agri-management specialists in Wisconsin that concentrated on employee management on growing Wisconsin dairy farms.  Block was involved in the agribusiness arena for more then 30 years.

Even in "retirement", Block found it difficult to stay away from agricultural shows and seminars.  He grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm and graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in animal breeding.  Some of the career experiences that Block enjoyed included being the first dairy agent in Dodge County Extension and acting as manager for several livestock breeding firms in Wisconsin including Badger Breeders Cooperative (now Genex) headquartered in Shawno - and Tri-State Breeders (now Accelerated) in Westby.  He was also general manager at East Central Breeders Cooperative in Waupun.

Farm Director, Pam Jahnke, said that Block was always very encouraging about getting the message of food production out to consumers.  "Any time that I saw Alton at agricultural events - he always knew what stories I was reporting on, and was happy to help me think of new messages that would resonate with consumers - not just farmers."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

 

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