Geiger’s New Book Explores Generational Farming

Corey Geiger, an international agricultural journalist and the author of On a Wisconsin Family Farm, uses his lively storytelling talents to capture six generations of life in America’s Dairyland in The Wisconsin Farm They Built: Tales of Family & Fortitude.

After his mother was killed by a train, Elmer Pritzl was thrown into adulthood at the age of 16. A clever and crafty fellow, he quickly found work at the local foundry, was promoted to foreman by age 18 and found himself supervising workers who were double or even triple his age during the depths of the Great Depression. 

That career track ended abruptly five years later, however, when Elmer fell in love with a farmer’s daughter, Julia Burich. Six months after their wedding, Julia’s father died, and with no male relatives left, Julia’s mother asked Elmer, “Will you run my farm?” And that’s how Elmer – born a city boy – transformed his life and began a love affair with a Wisconsin family farm.

Geiger was elected the 65th president of the Holstein Association USA, serves on the board of the World Dairy Expo, and manages and owns a portion of his six-generation family farm.