What does it take to move a dairy forward?
Sometimes it is a new technology. Sometimes it is a young producer willing to try something different. And sometimes, it is the employee who knows the operation inside and out and keeps things moving when no one is watching.
Those three pieces of dairy leadership are at the center of the 2026 MILK Business Awards, which will recognize three dairy leaders at the MILK Business Conference, Dec. 7-9, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The awards recognize excellence in three areas of dairy production: Leader in Technology, Young Producer and Employee Excellence. This year’s winners are:
- Leader in Technology: Hunter Ridge Dairy, LLP, Ault, Colo.
- Young Producer: Christine Bender, McFarlandale Dairy, Watertown, Wis.
- Employee Excellence: Chris Granius, Ebert Enterprises, Algoma, Wis.
Their operations and roles differ, but each winner shows a distinct way dairy leaders are keeping farms moving forward.
Hunter Ridge Dairy Puts Technology to Work
At Hunter Ridge Dairy, technology has become part of how managers keep track of a large herd, make decisions and use their people efficiently.
The northern Colorado dairy and farming operation uses activity collars to identify individual animals in heat or showing signs of illness. The information helps employees respond sooner while making sure cows do not slip through the cracks. The operation has seen improvements in cow health, production and reproduction since implementing the technology.
The dairy partnered with Intelligent Dairy Solutions (IDS) to turn herd and feeding data from multiple sites into reports managers, feed managers and nutritionists can use each week. The system provides information on feeding performance at the pen and feeder level, along with body condition data. Work that once took hours across multiple sites can now be condensed into a report delivered weekly, giving managers more time to focus on other responsibilities.
Hunter Ridge is also testing what may come next. Cameras developed with IDS are being used in return lanes and barns to collect body condition information on individual cows and groups. Cameras over feed bunks are beginning to provide information about feed delivery and availability, while early data around heat detection and sick-cow identification is showing promise.
“We hope to be able to move away from collars and be completely dependent on the camera system in the next 6-12 months,” notes Blain Nicks, executive director of dairy operations, adding that the computer vision tools have “endless potential to change the dairy industry”.
As part of Jager Ag, Hunter Ridge combines large-scale efficiency with rigorous attention to detail.
What separates Jager Ag is its ability to combine considerable scale with close attention to detail,” explains Jerod Henrickson of Bella Holsteins. “Larger operations can sometimes lose that hands-on culture as they grow, but Jager Ag has maintained it”.
Advanced embryo transfers account for 15% of total breedings, using genomic testing to target traits critical for cow health and profitability. On the environmental side, a centralized methane digester converts manure into renewable natural gas, offsetting manure management challenges while driving carbon neutrality. Above all, leadership embraces calculated risk-taking.
“Innovation is not about adopting every new tool available — it is about understanding which tools create the greatest benefit for your operation.”
That willingness to test, measure and adjust has become part of the operation’s culture. “If we believe in a technology or product, we are not afraid to try it. Sometimes the change is great; other times we have to pivot and go a different direction,” Nicks says.
Christine Bender Leads with Vision and Heart
Christine Bender, a sixth-generation dairy farmer at McFarlandale Dairy in Watertown, Wis., oversees animal care for 2,200 cows, youngstock, and roughly 30 employees across two sites alongside her family. After earning degrees in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication from UW–Madison in 2013 and working as a dairy nutritionist, Bender returned to the farm full-time in 2016 following her father’s prostate cancer diagnosis.
Starting with management of the calf program, Bender learned early on that “small changes, supported by good people, can have a significant impact”. Her leadership as overall herd manager transformed operational results.
Herd veterinarian Dr. Robert Farruggio notes that under her care, daily milk production climbed from 72 lbs. per cow per day to over 100 lbs. Energy Corrected Milk (ECM), while pregnancy rates soared from 18% to 30%.
Looking toward the future, Bender is overseeing an expansion project that includes building an 80-stall rotary parlor designed to unify their herds at one location and position the dairy to grow to 4,000 lactating cows.
Her focus also extends to people and community engagement. She prioritizes bilingual employee training, written SOPs and ongoing education, while helping host June Dairy Month breakfasts that bring about 5,000 visitors to the farm.
“She is an innovative leader, a dedicated producer, and someone who is helping shape the future of the dairy industry through her vision, integrity, and work ethic.”
Chris Granius Exemplifies Dedicated Leadership
At Ebert Enterprises in Algoma, Wis., Operations Manager Chris Granius has spent nearly 30 years proving that leadership is built through trust and leading by example. What started in 1998 as a high-school job milking cows grew into a lifelong career overseeing daily operations, cropping, herd health and staff coordination across a 140-employee beef and dairy business.
Granius has worked nearly every position on the dairy, giving him a practical understanding of the operation and the challenges employees face each day. When problems come up, he is willing to step in rather than simply tell someone else how to fix them.
“Chris is not one to ever utter a ‘that’s not my job’ and can be found with a shovel in his hand or behind the wheel of a milk truck if needed,” the Ebert family says.
Whether solving an equipment issue, making a herd management decision or coordinating with department managers, Granius has earned a reputation as someone the team can count on.
“His approachable demeanor, steady leadership, and genuine care for others have created an environment where employees know they are valued and supported.”
The Ebert family says Granius treats the dairy as if it were his own. His impact can be seen not only in the work he has done, but in the people he has mentored, the animals he has cared for and the role he continues to play in the family and the business.
Register for the 2026 MILK Business Conference to hear more from the leaders behind these stories and connect with others working to build what comes next for dairy.
