For Dick Boniface, growing up on a small 40-acre dairy operation in Wisconsin, milking cows by hand was his way of life.
How did he go from milking cows by hand to a long and rewarding career in the wool industry? Lots of hard work, dedication and a newfound interest in something he knew little about — sheep.
Boniface graduated in 1953 from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in agricultural economics. Not knowing what he was going to do for employment after graduation, the head of the economics department at the University of Wisconsin gave him the name of the manager at North Central Wool Marketing Corp. in Minneapolis.
With having “very little contact with sheep” growing up he decided to go for the job and stayed there his entire 40-year career. He began there as part of the grading crew, he then worked as a wool buyer; he supervised field staff and the wool buyers in the country also and was the director of public relations.
“Being in the wool buying business is a seasonal type of thing,” Boniface said. It was during the off-peak times that Boniface “took on a lot of functions.” One of those functions was being the editor of Wool Sack, which was a “very large publication” with around 20,000 subscribers.
In addition to working for the NCWMC, Boniface devoted much of his time to many wool-related organizations and continues to do so to this day.
Why?
“Simply because I am interested in it,” he said. His work has included helping start the first booth at the Sheep Barn at the Minnesota State Fair as well as helping organize the Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Association.
Boniface and his wife, Juanita, also have a 4-H endowment established. They began this endowment because they want to “leave a long-term investment in support of the 4-H animal science projects,” Boniface said. Juanita had a long career with the University of Minnesota Extension and 4-H and was instrumental in getting this endowment going.
The money from the endowment is used to provide awards for the 4-H wool fleece classes, Lamb Lead and sheep carcass contest. In addition to the 4-H State Fair awards, they also provide cash awards in creative arts and contribute to the 4-H livestock auction.
The couple also has used their love of sheep and the wool industry as they “worked with Ag in the Classroom for 10 years,” he said. They presented to the students not only information about sheep but showed them examples of products made from wool. That included showing them stages the wool goes through to be made into those wool products. It was through this volunteer work that Boniface got to see how children need to know more about agriculture, and how vital it is to teach them about ag’s importance.
While wool has been important to Boniface he has also served on the board of directors for the Twin Cities Co-op Credit Union (now SPIRE). During his time on that board he served two terms as president and was part of the beginning of the expansion for the credit union, of which he “feels good about having been a part.”
He and Juanita have served as program coordinators for the Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care. They both are currently officers for the Anoka County Farm Bureau.
His devotion to helping others throughout the wool industry and beyond led Boniface to be named the winner of the Camptender Award from the American Sheep Industry Association at their annual convention in Nashville, Tenn. This award is given to those who have made strong contributions to the wool industry.
His reaction to receiving the award?
“Flabbergasted. To say the least, I was surprised.”
Boniface simply believes that his greatest reward has been “the people that I have worked with, the farmers and ranchers, who I think are the greatest people in the world.” This award solidifies his mark on the wool industry and illuminates the hard work and dedication he has shown throughout his career, and continues to this day.
