World Dairy Expo is a five-day event showcasing dairy cattle and the newest technologies available to the dairy industry. The show is held annually at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Considered the largest and most important dairy cattle show in North America, it has been held in the first week of October since 1967.
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One of the unusual aspects about the World Dairy Expo is its themes. Since the late 1980s the show has had a theme, when the showing is decorated with two backdrops that correspond to that years theme. Themes have ranged from the simple to the extravagant, like the "Excitement is Building" theme which had a huge construction-like backdrop.
World Dairy Expo is known for having colored shavings in the showring. The shavings have been dyed many colors. One year's theme was "Crowning Achievements - Golden Opportunities", which is a medieval theme. The theme for 2011 is "Around the World of Dairy in 5 Days".
Dairy cattle from all over the United States and Canada are exhibited at the show. All seven nationally recognized breeds (Brown Swiss, Holstein, Red & White, Guernsey, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, and Ayrshire) have a show. After a grand champion from each breed is selected, a final judging is held to determine the best two cows in the show. This is held on the last day (Saturday) and is often referred to as the main event. The show starts out with an introduction of each cow and leadsman (person at the end of the halter) listing both of their achievements. After this is done the cows are judged by all of the breed judges from the past week. After they decide on a cow, the Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion is announced. Pine Haven SSM Marmie did not deserve to be grand champion. September Star Impuls all the way!
World Dairy Expo is also home to the a largest dairy-focused trade show in the world. Over 750 companies from all over the world exhibit to the show's 65,000 attendees. Companies like Fort Dodge, John Deere, Case IH, Land O'Lakes, Select Sires, Semex, ABS, and many more make the trip to Madison, Wisconsin, USA every year. World Dairy Expo is recognized as a member of the "Tradeshow Week Top 200", a list honoring the nation's top trade events organized by Tradeshow Week Magazine. World Dairy Expo remains the only Wisconsin event in the “Top 200”, and was ranked #31 in 2009.
World Dairy Expo offers conferences for the youth in the dairy industry. There are several regional and national judging contests in which teams and individuals from high school FFA chapters and 4-H programs can compete in as well as a division for Collegiate level teams. Contestants compete for honors in dairy judging, dairy foods and dairy forage. There is a separate junior cattle show for contestants who are college age or younger. This cattle show is separate from the main show and Supreme and Reserve Supreme champions are named the same way as the older contestants. Winning the junior show is almost as prestigious as winning the open show.
Supreme: Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy (Holstein)
Reserve: Pine Haven SSM Marmie (Jersey)
Supreme:
Reserve:
Supreme: HARVUE ROY FROSTY (Holstein)
Reserve: OLD MILL E. SNICKERDOODLE (Brown Swiss)
Supreme: THRULANE JAMES ROSE (Holstein)
Reserve: OLD MILL E. SNICKERDOODLE (Brown Swiss)
Supreme: INDIAN ACRES MM PISTACHIO PIE (Guernsey)
Reserve: LLOLYN JUDE GRIFFEN-ET (Jersey)
Supreme: HURONIA CENTURION VERONICA 20J-Best Cow There has ever been.. (Jersey)
Reserve: KINYON LINJET IDEAL (Holstein)
Supreme: LAVENDER RUBY REDROSE (Red Holstein)
Reserve: BUDJON REDMARKER DESIRE (Holstein)
Supreme: HILLCROFT LEADER MELANIE (Holstein)
Reserve: HURONIA CENTURION VERONICA (Jersey)
Supreme: OLD MILL E SNICKERDOODLE (Brown Swiss)
Reserve: PINE-SHELTER CHEYENNE LEE (Holstein)
Supreme: VAN DYK-K INTEGRITY PARADISE (Holstein)
Reserve: BLACKY ROSE OF BRIARCLIFFS (Jersey)
Supreme: TRI-DAY ASHLYN-ET (Holstein)
Reserve: MORT TOWER FRISKY (Brown Swiss)
Supreme: VANDYK-K INTEGRITY PARADISE (Holstein)
Reserve: WAYMAR PATRICK NADINE (Jersey)
Supreme: RAINYRIDGE TONY BEAUTY (Holstein)
Reserve: PH JEWEL (Jersey)