Assistant Editor

MADISON, Wis. — The week of Oct. 2-6 marks a special time of the year for dairy producers and enthusiasts from across the United States and spanning nearly 80 countries around the world.

Returning for its 40th annual appearance in Madison, Wis., the World Dairy Expo (WDE) will welcome thousands upon thousands of attendees, more than 1,500 commercial exhibitors, 675 companies, and more than 2,000 of show animals to the Alliant Energy Center, an expansive show complex in central Wisconsin.

“It is, after all, where the dairy industry meets – a brilliant place to exchange ideas, a dazzling display of dairy cattle and the brightest showcase of dairy technology, products and services geared to today’s dairy producer, said Lisa Behnke, who serves as marketing manager for WDE. “It’s the place for world-class competition among the country’s top breeders, with seven national and international breed shows, the Kingsmill Farm II International Futurity and six breed sales held on the grounds.”

Behnke said that more than 2,000 head are expected to parade across the colored shavings this year, competing amid the world’s best in one of eight breed shows. The largest breed shows at the Expo continue to break records including the International Holstein Show, Central National Brown Swiss Show and the Central National Jersey Show. Other nationally recognized dairy breeds taking stride in the Expo shavings include the Aryshire, Guernsey, Junior Holstein, Milking Shorthorn and the Red & White Holstein.

While the breed shows takes place throughout the week, attendees are also invited to take advantage of free education seminars on dairy management and other industry issues such as nutrition, health and animal welfare, biosecurity training, employee management and leadership, environmental regulations, reproductive technologies such as sexed semen and manure management.

In addition to seminars, the Expo will also offer a series of virtual farm tours, focusing on a variety of operation types and sizes, from both the United States and Canada. Free with admission, the tours will present a pictorial view of farms that excel in new technology integration, forage quality, cutting edge facilities, genetics, crossbreeding, embryo transfers, employee relationships and keeping dairying a family business.

Featured farms include Double Eagle Dairy in Middleton, Mich.; Woldt Farm in Brillion, Wis.; Huffard Dairy Farms in Crockett, Va.; Yeandle Farms in Drumbo, On., Canada; Greenberg Farms in Statford, Wis.; City Slickers Farm in Cross Plains, Wis.; Nagel Dairy in Deerbrook, Wis. North Valley Farms in Shepherd, Mich. and Double Dutch Dairy in Shelby, Neb.

The theme for the 2007 Expo is Bright Lights, Big Show, according to Behnke, who noted that the Expo truly offers something for everyone, from those with a love for show cattle to commercial producers with an eye on the latest technologies and innovations in the dairy industry.

The Expo will open its gate doors beginning Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. and close daily at 5 p.m. Daily admission is $7 per person and season passes are $21 per person.

For more details, contact WDE staff at 608-224-6455 or go online at www.worlddairy expo.com

This farm news was published in the Sept. 26, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.