For generations, the National Dairy Shrine in Fort Atkinson, Wis., has served as the industry’s sanctuary of heritage. Its walls are lined with the portraits of legends — the pioneers, the master breeders and the visionaries who built the foundation of U.S. dairy.
Traditionally, these hallowed halls have been a place to look back on a lifetime of work. But this year, the Shrine is doing something different. It is looking forward.
Earlier this spring, National Dairy Shrine announced its inaugural class of Emerging Dairy Leaders. This new category of recognition honors professionals aged 40 or younger who aren’t just promising for the future but are actively reshaping the heartbeat of the dairy industry today.
“Part of the National Dairy Shrine mission is to inspire young people to do great things in their careers,” Mike Opperman, Dairy Shrine Executive Director says. “With the new Emerging Leader award, we recognize those people who have made significant contributions early in their careers.”
The 2026 honorees — Bo Harstine, Allison Ryan, Lucas Sjostrom and Emily Yeiser Stepp —represent the triple Play of modern leadership: technical brilliance, consumer connection and tireless advocacy.
Their stories prove that in an era of rapid consolidation and shifting diets, the industry’s most vital asset isn’t just the milk in the tank, but the grit of the people leading the charge.
Innovation and the Scientific Pulse
For Bo Harstine, Vice President of Technical Initiatives & Innovation for Select Sires, Inc., leadership is rooted in lifelong connection to the land and insatiable scientific curiosity.
In an industry where genetics move at the speed of data, Harstine has become a master of strategic alignment. He hasn’t just improved how we breed cows; he has fundamentally strengthened how the industry collaborates.
Beyond the lab, his work with the Ohio Department of Education ensures that the next generation of students is learning skills that actually match the modern needs of the dairy farm.
Bridging the Gap to the Consumer
In an era where shifting land use and the rise of social media have fundamentally changed how we engage with our neighbors, Allison Ryan has found her calling in fostering transparency and building public trust.
As the Director of Marketing and Communications for MVP Dairy, Ryan was the driving force behind two state-of-the-art education facilities. She understands that public trust is a social license that must be earned every day.
By humanizing the industry and creating scalable models for agricultural education, she is proving that a culturable philosophy is the best way to win the hearts of Gen Z and beyond. Her leadership ensures that agriculture remains the cultural and social anchor of her community.
The Renaissance Man of Dairy
Few individuals have covered as much ground by age 39 as Lucas Sjostrom. Currently an account manager at Specialty Herd Solutions and the Head Distiller at Redhead Creamery, Sjostrom’s career is a masterclass in diversification.
He has sat at the table with Russian investors, testified at Federal Milk Marketing Order hearings and led trade missions.
But perhaps his most heartfelt achievement is the sustainability of his own family farm. By modeling value-added strategies nationwide, Sjostrom is proving that modern dairy success requires a willingness to pivot from the parlor to the policy floor — and sometimes even to the distillery.
Standards of Excellence
Emily Yeiser Stepp, Senior Director of Industry Affairs for fairlife LLC, embodies the high standards that keep the U.S. dairy industry a global leader.
Her resume is a list of heavy lifts: training over 400 evaluators for the National Dairy FARM program and managing a social responsibility network that encompasses 99% of the nation’s fluid milk supply.
When a crisis hits or a reputation is on the line, Yeiser Stepp is the steady hand the industry relies on. She possesses the unique ability to speak to a room full of CEOs one hour and a room full of producers the next, always with the same goal: maintaining the integrity of the people behind the milk check.
Portraits of the Future
This evening in Madison, Wis., these four leaders will be formally recognized. Their portraits will be added to the Hall of Fame — not as a final chapter, but as a “to be continued.”
As we look at these new faces in the Shrine, we see more than just early-career success; we see the relentless spirit that defines the U.S. dairy industry.
They embody the resilience required to navigate today’s market challenges and the deep-rooted passion necessary to cultivate both a thriving business and the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The National Dairy Shrine was built to honor the past, but through Harstine, Ryan, Sjostrom and Yeiser Stepp, it is securing the future. They are the proof that while the challenges of 2026 are real, the leadership needed to overcome them is even stronger.
