When seven-year-old David Dyment landed face-down in the dirt during his first show experience, no one could have predicted he'd become one of dairy's most influential contrarians. In this compelling episode, we explore how Dyment's ability to challenge conventional wisdom transformed multiple facets of the dairy industry—from showmanship techniques to organizational restructuring and his groundbreaking "consistency over unpredictability" breeding philosophy at AG3 Genetics.

In This Episode

• Introduction and David's first showing experience
• Early years at Glen Drummond Farm and parental influence
• Evolution from reluctant 4-H participant to innovative showman
• Building a commercial cattle export business
• Boardroom leadership and the birth of Gencor
• Founding AG3 Genetics and challenging genomic trends
• Dyment's intuitive approach to showmanship
• Mentorship and influential relationships
• Other ventures and personal life
• Legacy and key takeaways

Featured Story

The episode highlights a pivotal moment when the Dyment family faced potential disaster after their prized cow, Aero Flower, failed export tests to Japan—a potential $100,000 loss in 1991. Instead of panicking, David's mother Betty announced with characteristic clarity: "There's an easy and hard way. We'll make more money the hard way." The family sold 500 embryos at $1,000 each, turning crisis into opportunity—a perfect example of the innovative thinking that would define David's career.

Key Quotes

"I wasn't interested in doing things the traditional way just because that's how they'd always been done." —David Dyment

"Transformation is my greatest achievement." —David Dyment

"Genomics without performance verification is speculation compounded by more speculation." —David Dyment on AG3's founding philosophy

"It's never about what I want in that ring. It's about what the cow needs and what the owner deserves." —David Dyment on showmanship

Practical Takeaways for Listeners

• Challenge conventional wisdom when industry practices don't align with proven results
• Focus on consistency and reliability over flashy statistics and hype
• Scale operations strategically through volume rather than maximizing margins on individual transactions
• Continuously reinvent yourself and your operation to remain relevant and innovative

About David Dyment

David Dyment transformed from a reluctant showman to a dairy industry innovator who has influenced multiple facets of the business. From his early days at Glen Drummond Farm to leadership at Gencor and founding AG3 Genetics, his career exemplifies strategic transformation. Now 62, he continues to innovate while enjoying family time at his lakeside retreat in Muskoka, alongside his wife and business partner of 40+ years, Joanne.

Read more - https://www.thebullvine.com/breeder-profiles/from-show-ring-legend-to-industry-innovator-the-david-dyment-story/