World Dairy Expo Announces Recognition Award Winners
World Dairy Expo Announces Recognition Award Winners
MADISON, WIS. – World Dairy Expo® is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Recognition Awards. Nominated and selected by their peers, these individuals have made remarkable contributions to the dairy industry and their communities. Honorees will be celebrated during the Recognition Awards Banquet at World Dairy Expo on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Banquet tickets will be available at www.worlddairyexpo.com beginning on July 1.
2026 Dairy Producers of the Year
Built on more than 60 years of vision and family tradition, Oakfield Corners Dairy has grown from 65 cows in 1965 to a dynamic, multi-state operation spanning more than 10,000 cows and 15,000 acres across New York and Ohio. Led today by 12th-generation farmers Jonathan and Alicia Lamb, and Matthew and Kendra Lamb along with Jim Veazey and Janette Veazey-Post, the dairy reflects a powerful blend of innovation, purpose and commitment to excellence.
Oakfield Corners Dairy is defined not only by its scale, but by its focus on doing the right things well, from exceptional cow care and milk quality to environmental stewardship and team development. Their detail-driven approach has resulted in industry-leading production, including an energy-corrected milk average exceeding 110 pounds per cow and an 18-year streak of milk quality awards. At the same time, they cultivate genetic excellence and are no strangers to the winner’s circle, notably capturing Grand Champion at the 2025 International Holstein Show.
A global leader in genetics and sustainability, the team at Oakfield Corners Dairy is equally dedicated to shaping the future of dairy through innovation, community engagement and developing the next generation.
2026 Industry Person of the Year
When an industry presents one of its highest honors, it reflects not on a single accomplishment, but rather on a lifetime of impact. Corey Geiger’s career embodies that standard through decades of leadership, communication and service to the dairy industry.
Raised on his family’s sixth-generation dairy farm in Wisconsin and educated in dairy science and agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Geiger built a career grounded in both practical experience and analytical insight. For nearly 30 years at Hoard’s Dairyman, including 14 as Managing Editor, he became one of the industry’s most trusted voices—translating complex market and policy issues into meaningful, actionable information for dairy producers.
Today, as Lead Dairy Economist at CoBank, Geiger continues to influence the industry on a global scale, providing research and insight that guide producers, processors and policymakers alike. His leadership extends across numerous organizations, including World Dairy Expo, where his commitment is defined not by titles, but by action, service and an unwavering dedication to dairy’s future.
2026 International Person of the Year
Some individuals advance an industry while others help build the very foundation upon which it stands. Robert Chicoine’s life’s work has done exactly that, shaping modern dairy genetics in Canada and influencing breeding decisions in more than 80 countries worldwide.
After earning his Master’s Degree in Animal Breeding, Chicoine began his career in 1966 with the Centre d’Insémination Artificielle du Québec (CIAQ). He was a pioneer in applying data-driven decision-making to sire selection. At a time when tradition dominated, he championed the use of genetic indexes, an approach that would revolutionize breeding programs and become standard practice globally. Through initiatives like the Young Sire Testing Program, he helped develop some of the most influential Holstein sires in history.
Chicoine’s vision extended beyond genetics. As a driving force behind the creation of the Semex Alliance, he established a collaborative model that continues to deliver Canadian genetics around the world. As a builder, innovator and mentor, his legacy lives on through the systems, organizations and people he helped shape.
Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo is the premier forum for the dairy community to learn, share, create commerce and showcase competition. The annual event will return to Madison, Wis. on September 29 – October 2, 2026. Dairy producers can experience the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, a world-class dairy cattle show, attend seminars, meetings and presentations highlighting the latest and greatest in the industry and connect with other producers.
Download the World Dairy Expo mobile app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify, or YouTube for more information.
