Robert Chicoine, World Dairy Expo’s 2026 International Person of the Year

When you look at how far dairy genetics has come, it’s easy to focus on the technology we have today. Genomics, sexed semen, IVF, advanced genetic indexes—all of these tools have transformed the way dairy producers make breeding decisions.

But long before many of these technologies became part of everyday dairy breeding, people like Robert Chicoine were helping lay the groundwork for what was possible.

Named the 2026 International Person of the Year by World Dairy Expo, Robert Chicoine has spent his career helping advance dairy genetics, build collaboration within the industry, and bring Canadian genetics to producers around the world. His story is one of curiosity, innovation, and a willingness to think beyond what was possible at the time.

A Passion for Cows That Started Early

Robert's connection to dairy began on a farm, where his interest in cows and genetics took root at a young age. A pivotal encounter with the Holstein Journal helped fuel that curiosity and eventually led him toward a career focused on agriculture and genetics.

That early passion eventually took Robert into academia and then into the artificial insemination industry in Quebec, where he began putting his knowledge of genetics into practice.

What followed was a career that would have an influence far beyond his home province.

Changing the Way Dairy Producers Think About Genetics

One of Robert's most significant contributions was his work with data-driven genetic indexes.

At a time when sire selection was becoming increasingly sophisticated, these tools helped producers make more informed decisions about which genetics could move their herds forward. The ability to evaluate animals based on measurable traits created new opportunities for genetic progress and helped establish a more strategic approach to breeding.

Robert wasn't simply interested in identifying the best bull today. His work reflected a bigger question: How can we use the information we have to make better breeding decisions for the future?

That forward-thinking approach became a defining part of his career.

Building a Global Genetics Legacy

Robert's work also played an important role in the development of the Semex Alliance.

Bringing Canadian genetics together under one organization created an opportunity to reach producers far beyond Canada. Today, Semex genetics are used in more than 80 countries, demonstrating just how far-reaching the vision behind the organization became.

For Robert, this wasn't simply about creating a successful company or marketing genetics internationally. It was about collaboration and creating something that could have a lasting impact on the dairy industry.

More than 25 years later, that vision continues to influence dairy producers around the world.

Hanover Starbuck and the Power of Seeing Potential

Among the many milestones throughout Robert's career, the selection of Hanover Starbuck stands out as one of his proudest accomplishments.

Starbuck became an influential bull within the Holstein breed, and identifying that potential required both an understanding of genetics and the ability to look beyond what was immediately obvious.

That combination of data, experience, and vision appears throughout Robert's career.

He wasn't simply looking at where the industry was. He was thinking about where it could go.

Watching Technology Transform Dairy Genetics

Robert's career has spanned some of the most significant technological changes in dairy cattle breeding.

Genomics, sexed semen, and in vitro fertilization have all changed the speed and precision with which producers can make genetic progress. What once took generations can now happen much more quickly.

Having lived through those changes, Robert offers a unique perspective on innovation. He has seen technologies move from emerging ideas to tools that are now influencing breeding programs around the world.

His career is a reminder that today's "new" technology often becomes tomorrow's standard practice.

Leadership Means Looking Ahead

Technology may have been a major part of Robert's career, but his impact goes beyond genetics.

His leadership has been characterized by collaboration, innovation, and the ability to recognize opportunities before they become obvious. Rather than trying to do everything himself, Robert understood the importance of surrounding ideas with talented people who could help bring them to life.

That approach has allowed his influence to continue long after individual projects or positions have changed.

It's also part of what makes his recognition as World Dairy Expo's 2026 International Person of the Year so meaningful.

A Legacy Built by Many People

Despite an impressive list of accomplishments, Robert remains humble about his career and the recognition he's receiving.

He credits the teams and leaders around him for helping bring ideas to life and move the industry forward. That perspective speaks to an important truth about agricultural innovation: very rarely is progress the result of one person working alone.

Great ideas need collaboration. They need people willing to take risks. And they need leaders who can see the potential in something before everyone else does.

Robert's career reflects all three.

Celebrating a Career That Changed Dairy Genetics

Robert Chicoine's recognition as the 2026 International Person of the Year is an opportunity to celebrate more than one individual's accomplishments.

It's a chance to look at how innovation has shaped the dairy industry—and how the people willing to embrace new ideas have helped move it forward.

From data-driven genetic indexes and influential sires to genomics, IVF, and global genetic collaboration, Robert has been part of some of the industry's most important changes.

And perhaps his greatest legacy is the reminder that innovation doesn't happen by standing still.

It happens when someone is curious enough to ask what could be better, brave enough to try something new, and committed enough to see the idea through.

Robert Chicoine has spent a career doing exactly that.

He will be honored at the World Dairy Expo Award Recognition Banquet on Tuesday, September 29, in Madison, Wisconsin—a fitting celebration for a career that has left a lasting mark on dairy genetics around the world.

Follow the Uplevel Dairy Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of dairy. Subscribe at UplevelDairy.com and follow along on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for more stories, insights, and lessons from leaders across the industry.

To hear the complete discussion, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.