Saying Goodbye to Our Co-Op’s First CFO (and Part-Time Astrologer)

Jerome McGeorge understood numbers. He understood stars. He understood people.

No one escaped Jerome’s charm.

Organic Valley’s first CFO, Jerome McGeorge, was a legend beyond the walls of Organic Valley’s offices, creating change and beauty both in the little village of La Farge, Wisconsin, where the co-op was born, and across the seas. He positively influenced businesses and organizations and many, many people. Our co-op may never have taken off without Jerome’s insights and ideals.

He was an expert in finance and used his business sense to help startups and organizations, including a local school, a domestic abuse program, and our co-op. He freely shared his wisdom with others, preferring to work with a barter system. Payment could be a load of wood or a table. It was up to the person receiving his advice to decide what they could give. It was never about fattening his bank account. It was about what was best for the community.

“He had an incredible attitude about what was ‘plenty,’” said George Siemon, one of Organic Valley’s founding farmers and former CEO.