Chris Hackman is the Chief Operating Officer at Prairie Farms Dairy, bringing over three decades of experience to his role. Dedicating his entire career to the dairy industry, he has showcased exceptional leadership and commitment to operational excellence.
Chris’ leadership within the dairy industry is widely recognized. He currently serves on the Missouri Dairy Products Association Board of Directors, the AllStar Association Board of Directors, a national purchasing group, and the MilkPep advisory board, a national program under the jurisdiction of the USDA. He is a past president of both the MDPA and the AllStar Association Board of Directors. In 2017, Chris was inducted into the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors, receiving their prestigious Leadership Award for his outstanding contributions to the Missouri dairy industry.
Prior to joining the leadership team at Prairie Farms, Chris managed his third generation, family-owned processing facility, Central Dairy. This gave him a deep understanding of the dairy industry from production to distribution, and the crucial role of returning value to hard-working dairy farmers. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations before assuming his current position as COO in 2023.
As Chief Operating Officer, Chris oversees a growing network of 50 manufacturing plants and 100 distribution facilities, ensuring Prairie Farms continues to deliver the high-quality products customers have come to expect. Under Chris’ guidance, Prairie Farms has seen significant growth and operational improvements. His dedication to the farmer-owners, associates, and customers is unwavering, always striving to “do right” by them.
