When leaves begin to change and the temperature begins to drop, many people look forward to switching out their wardrobe, going apple picking, and embarking on fall activities. For me, those activities are exciting, but first and foremost, I look forward to the first week in October and arguably one of the best times of the entire year – World Dairy Expo.
For more than five decades now, the global dairy industry has met in Madison, Wisconsin, for this highly anticipated event. Annually held at the Alliant Energy Center, nearly 75,000 people from more than 100 countries travel to America’s Dairyland to see all that World Dairy Expo has to offer. But the event had much humbler beginnings.
Waterloo, Iowa, was home to the Dairy Cattle Congress starting in 1910. In an effort to encourage attendance to its annual meeting, the show was broadened in 1949 to include national competitions for horses, poultry, waterfowl, and rabbits. In the early to mid-1960’s, as the logistics of getting cattle to Waterloo became more challenging and the show focus shifted away from dairy, cattle exhibitors met to plan how they could continue having a “major, national dairy show,” even if it was no longer in Waterloo.
After much discussion, Madison was selected as the location for continuing the national dairy show because of Wisconsin’s dairy history and the facilities available, some of which are still in use today! The first “expo” took place over ten days in 1967, featuring food and youth forums, World Economics Day, and the World Olympics of Dairy Cattle with the world’s largest dairy trophy, just to name a few highlights. Cattle herds descended upon Madison in droves, with some even arriving by rail or flown into the airport, totaling nearly 1,500 entries. Several formats were attempted over the years to try to increase attendance with musical entertainment, dances, 4-H and collegiate judging contests, and banquets with keynote speakers. However, the program continued to have cash flow issues.
In 1971, leaders representing a variety of dairy interests met in Madison to discuss the need for a trade show for dairy farmers. After that meeting, businesses and organizations, recognizing the need for the expo, pulled together to keep the show alive. They formed a new corporation, purchased the assets, and officially started World Dairy Expo, Inc.
The mission statement of this event indicates its importance. “World Dairy Expo serves as a forum for dairy producers, companies, organizations and other dairy enthusiasts to come together to compete and to exchange ideas, knowledge, technology, and commerce.”
Throughout my six years working in the dairy industry, I have had the opportunity to be at World Dairy Expo many times. The first few years were just as a visitor, but once I started college, I was able to see the expo in a new light through working in booths during my internships for the Farm and Industry Short Course and Professional Dairy Producers. Now as Alice, I am excited to hit the colored shavings myself for the very first time and explore all the wonderful ways we can celebrate the dairy industry, both in Wisconsin and across the globe.
Visiting World Dairy Expo today serves as an opportunity to see almost 2,500 head of cattle from across the world compete. All seven breeds grace the colored shavings, which change every year, to compete against the best of the best.
This world-class event’s trade show has more than 900 vendors and allows visitors to witness firsthand cutting-edge technology and the latest and greatest dairy equipment. Where else can you talk one-on-one with experts, researchers, and national sales representatives who live and breathe the dairy industry every single day?
Wisconsin’s impressive dairy industry is truly set on display at World Dairy Expo. From virtual tours featuring innovative Wisconsin dairy farms, Wisconsin dairy breeders, vendors, and companies, to many networking opportunities, World Dairy Expo serves as a time to reflect on Wisconsin’s success. I encourage agriculture enthusiasts to attend World Dairy Expo, this year running October 1-4, to see for yourself this remarkable event that draws thousands from across the globe to the capital of America’s Dairyland.
Wind Drift Countess Nora was named as the first World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion in 1970. She went on to bring home the Supreme title again in 1972. Photo courtesy of World Dairy Expo.
