10/07/2026
As the dust settles from World Dairy Expo, we would like to share our appreciation for Dan Hornickel and Chris Keim, winners of the Dairy Shrine Pioneer award this year - honoring the duo who started Sunshine Genetics from the ground up.
In 1978, Dr. Hornickel and Dr. Keim had a vision: to help their clients produce more heifer calves and build stronger, more successful dairy herds. What began as a dream and a shared passion for the dairy industry grew into something far greater than either of them could have imagined.
They didn’t simply start a business — they built a legacy.
Through years of hard work, long days, dedication to their clients, and an incredible commitment to the dairy industry, they helped shape farms and herds that would go on to impact generations. Their knowledge and expertise became the foundation on which Sunshine Genetics was built, and their influence can still be seen in the farms, families, and cattle that surround us today.
The success of Sunshine Genetics is a reflection of the values they established from the very beginning: work hard, know your cattle, know your clients, and always strive to make the next generation better than the last.
We are incredibly fortunate to have learned from the best. We are proud to carry forward what they started in 1978 and to continue building on the foundation they worked so hard to create.
As we celebrate another Expo, we want to take a moment to celebrate Dr. Hornickel and Dr. Keim — not only for the business they built, but for the countless people and farms they have influenced along the way.
Please join us in congratulating these two pioneers and thanking them for the legacy they created. ❤️
And if you have a favorite picture, memory, or story of Dr. Hornickel and Dr. Keim, we’d love for you to share it in the comments! Let’s fill the comments with some Sunshine Genetics history. 📸 🐄 ❤️
