Pioneer Chairman Honored With Achievement Award

Posted by Matt Hopkins|23 September 2008

In tribute to what the University Awards and Honors website calls “unusual distinction in their chosen fields or profession,” Des Moines, Iowa, US-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International Chairman Dean Oestreich received the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Oestreich has worked for the company since his graduation from the University in 1974. In his more than 30 years with Pioneer, Oestreich has held positions as vice president for the Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Pacific business, as well as vice president of Global Production Operations. He spent more than 12 years traveling overseas for Pioneer, helping the company maintain foreign relations in more than 70 countries.

In a company that offers more than 250 specific corn hybrids, 170 of which are used for fuel-grade ethanol, Oestreich developed 15 of the hybrids himself. “To put it into figures, Oestreich has had a hand in producing more than one million units of seed, each individual unit being planted over two and a half acres,” said Vern Cardwell professor of agronomy and plant genetics.

Oestreich said that he is very proud of being able to develop and sell improved types of seeds to farmers. “We’ve been able to improve crops globally,” he said.