Celebrating Leadership and Legacy: Corey Geiger, 2026 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year

Some people build their legacy through one career. Others build it through a lifetime of showing up, learning, sharing what they know, and helping the people around them become better.

Corey Geiger has done all of that.

From growing up on a small dairy farm in Manitowoc County to becoming a journalist, dairy economist, author, mentor, and one of the industry's most recognizable voices, Corey's career has been defined by curiosity, service, and a genuine commitment to dairy. In 2026, World Dairy Expo recognized that contribution by naming Corey Geiger its Industry Person of the Year.

But Corey's story isn't simply about an award. It's about the people, experiences, and mentors that shaped him—and the impact he has continued to have on the generations coming behind him.

A Dairy Beginning That Started on the Farm

Corey's connection to dairy began at home.

Growing up on his family's farm in Manitowoc County, Corey experienced the realities of dairy farming firsthand. The work, the responsibility, and the relationships that come with being part of a farm family helped shape his understanding of the industry from an early age.

But one particular experience helped point him toward the larger dairy community.

A 4-H judging contest at World Dairy Expo became a defining moment for Corey. What may have seemed like a simple youth activity at the time opened the door to a much bigger world and sparked a lifelong connection to the event and the industry surrounding it.

That experience also introduced Corey to mentors who saw potential in him and encouraged him to keep learning.

The Mentors Who Helped Shape Corey's Path

Mentorship has been one of the recurring themes throughout Corey's career.

The people who invested in Corey early on didn't simply teach him about dairy. They encouraged him to participate, ask questions, develop his voice, and believe that he had something valuable to contribute.

Corey has carried that lesson with him throughout his own career.

Today, he is often the person encouraging the next generation to get involved, ask questions, attend events, learn from others, and take advantage of opportunities that may not immediately seem important.

For Corey, mentorship isn't about having all the answers. It's about planting seeds.

You may not know exactly what someone will do with the knowledge or encouragement you give them, but you never know when that small investment will influence the direction of an entire career.

From Dairy Journalism to Economics

Corey's career has taken him through several different corners of the dairy industry.

As a journalist with Hoard's Dairyman, he developed a reputation for telling the stories of the people behind the industry. His work gave him the opportunity to learn from dairy producers, industry leaders, researchers, and innovators while helping communicate those stories to a much broader audience.

His career later expanded into the world of dairy economics with CoBank, where he has been able to look at the industry through another lens.

That combination of storytelling and economics gives Corey a unique perspective.

He understands that the dairy industry isn't just about numbers and markets. It's also about people, history, innovation, and the decisions producers make every day to keep their businesses moving forward.

Preserving Dairy History Through Storytelling

Corey's passion for storytelling has also extended into his work as an author.

His book, We Need a Show, documents the history of World Dairy Expo and the people who helped shape one of the industry's most important events.

Preserving that history matters because agriculture moves quickly. New technologies emerge, business models evolve, and the next generation brings new ideas to the table. But understanding where the industry came from can provide valuable perspective on where it is going.

Corey has helped capture those stories so they don't get lost.

And in many ways, that is another form of mentorship—giving future generations the opportunity to learn from the people who came before them.

Looking at Dairy Through an Economist's Lens

Corey's work as a dairy economist has added another dimension to his influence.

The dairy industry is constantly navigating questions around markets, profitability, processing capacity, genetics, consumer demand, and long-term sustainability. Corey's ability to connect economic data with the realities of the people working within the industry allows him to bring a broader perspective to those conversations.

Rather than simply looking at what is happening today, Corey's work encourages producers and industry professionals to think about what today's decisions could mean several years down the road.

That forward-looking mindset is especially important in an industry where change rarely happens in isolation.

Leadership Through Service

Perhaps the most meaningful part of Corey's story is the way he defines leadership.

His influence isn't built around being the loudest person in the room or having all the answers. It's built around making other people feel seen, valued, and capable.

That's servant leadership in action.

Throughout his career, Corey has continued to invest in people, whether through writing, speaking, mentoring, teaching, or simply taking the time to encourage someone who is just getting started.

And that influence can have a ripple effect.

One person who receives encouragement today may become the person mentoring someone else years from now.

A Legacy Still Being Written

Being named the 2026 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year is certainly a milestone, but Corey's story doesn't feel like one that is finished.

If anything, the recognition highlights how much can happen when a person stays curious, continues learning, and remains willing to invest in others.

Corey's career has connected the past, present, and future of dairy. He has helped preserve the industry's history, analyze its current challenges, and encourage the people who will shape what comes next.

And perhaps that is the most fitting legacy of all.

Not simply what you accomplish yourself, but what you help other people believe is possible.

Congratulations to Corey Geiger on being named the 2026 World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year and on a career that continues to make an impact across the dairy industry.

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