The American Jersey Cattle Association named Corey and Kristen Metcalf of Glacier Edge Dairy, Milton, Wis., as one of six recipients of the 2026 Young Jersey Breeder Award. They were honored June 18 during the 158th Annual Meeting of the association in Springfield, Mo.
For Corey and Kristen, ties to agriculture and dairy cattle date to their youth. Their individual experiences, combined with determination, hard work and a shared vision, ultimately led them to establish Glacier Edge Dairy.
Corey grew up with a love for agriculture and livestock. Even after his family dispersed their Holstein herd, he remained connected to agriculture through FFA and 4-H, exhibiting a variety of projects. He later worked for a custom harvesting operation, traveling from Texas to the Canadian border and gaining valuable experience with crops, machinery and employee management. The more he experienced other areas of agriculture, the more certain he became that his future was in dairy farming.
Kristen also grew up in a dairy family. When she was 14, her father unexpectedly passed away. She and her sisters remained connected to the dairy industry by raising and showing their Holstein heifers. Active in 4-H, FFA and the Junior Holstein Association, Kristen went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and build a career in the dairy industry, working for the Wisconsin Holstein Association, Hoard’s Dairyman and GENEX Cooperative.
Corey began purchasing young stock and raising the animals that would become the foundation of their milking herd. In 2017, Corey and Kristen, along with Corey’s parents, Terry and Jane, broke ground on Glacier Edge Dairy. Their dream became a reality with the construction of new facilities and a herd of 350 Registered Jerseys.
The dairy has continued to grow. In 2023, the family expanded its freestall barn to 750 stalls and transitioned to milking three times a day. Today, Glacier Edge Dairy is home to approximately 800 Registered Jerseys, along with 30 Holsteins—a nod to Kristen’s dairy roots.
In 2025, the 810-cow herd posted a rolling herd average of more than 20,700 lbs. milk, 1,137 lbs. fat and 808 lbs. protein.
Genetics have been a cornerstone of the Metcalfs’ operation. Every female is genomic tested, breeding decisions are made intentionally, and the dairy has been an early adopter of beef-on-dairy strategies.
Their genetic program has also reached well beyond the farm. Corey and Kristen have placed bulls with A.I. organizations, marketed embryos internationally and, in partnership with Semex, syndicated Metcalf Double Dare through The All American Jersey Sale in 2022.
While building their own operation, Corey and Kristen have made giving back to agriculture and their community a priority. Kristen judges dairy shows at the county and district levels, coaches and advises youth in the Rock County Junior Holstein Association, and works with dairy judging and dairy quiz bowl teams. She also serves on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin board of directors. Both Corey and Kristen are active members of the Milton FFA Alumni.
That commitment extends to Glacier Edge Dairy, where the doors are regularly opened to others. The Metcalfs have hosted school groups, community dairy breakfast visitors, youth and international guests, sharing their farm, their knowledge and their enthusiasm for the dairy industry.
Through their progressive approach to genetics and herd management, commitment to the Jersey breed and willingness to invest in the next generation, Corey and Kristen have built Glacier Edge Dairy into an operation that reflects both where they came from and their vision for the future.
The American Jersey Cattle Association was organized in 1868 to improve and promote the Jersey breed. Since 1957, National All-Jersey Inc. has served Jersey owners by promoting the increased production and sale of Jersey milk and milk products. For more information on its programs and services, visit www.USJersey.com or call 614/861-3636.
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