Mike Bock was honored with the Good Scout Award at the Leaders of Character Banquet. The banquet featured guest speaker Olympic Medalist Kenny Bednarek. The banquet was held at Turtleback Golf Course in Rice Lake on October 10th. 

About the Honoree:

Mike Bock spent over three decades with Dairy State Bank, serving as CEO from 2003 until near his retirement in 2023. Mike's expertise and leadership have been recognized at state and national levels. In 2023, he was named one of the Wisconsin Bankers Association Leaders in Banking. From 2021 to 2023, he served on the

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Committee on Community Banking. Balancing his professional life with his personal life, Mike and his wife Wanda have two children, Derek and Kayla, and are proud of their  five grandchildren.

Throughout his career, Mike has been deeply involved in community service. He has held leadership positions with the Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce, Bethany Lutheran Church, Lakeview Medical Center, Northern Star Theatre, and the Rice Lake Lions Club. His commitment to youth development is evident through coaching youth sports and his service on the board of the Education Foundation of Birchwood. He has provided significant contributions to local programs and continually shown his dedication to Barron County communities.

About the Guest Speaker :

Kenny Bednarek is a world-class American track and field athlete and two-time Olympian from Rice Lake, Wisconsin. He rose to international prominence when he captured the silver medal in the Men's 200m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Known for his  exceptional speed and consistency, Kenny was named the "Most Consistent Track and Field Athlete of 2021". He has a long list of impressive achievements, four Diamond League wins, two World Championship Silver Medals, and a World Continental win to name a few.

With his tremendous resilience, Kenny has overcome significant injuries to maintain his elite athletic status. He balances his rigorous training with a focus on mental health and nutrition. He is emerging as an advocate for foster care adoption, using his platform to inspire and make a difference on and off the track.

Kenny clocked two personal bests at the 2024 Olympic Trials and will be competing for Team USA in the Men’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.  

His dedication, resilience, and natural talent make him one of the most exciting athletes to watch in track and field today.

Previous honorees of the Good Scout Award include:

• Bill Appleyard
• Paul Chase 
• Edward Doyle 
• Virgil Edson 
• Arnold Ellison
• Foster Friess
• Tom Koser
• Louis Muench
• Chris Fitzgerald
• Terry Gerber
• Burnell “Bun” Hanson
• Bob Marsh
• John Muench
• Dan Thole
• Dr. Rod Olson
• Duke Thurs
• Dave and Sonja Wilson