Michael Hirshon
A lot of Madison-area people see the World Dairy Expo only as an event for farmers and others involved the dairy industry. That’s a pity. There’s a lot there for city folks as well.
More than a reason to clog up the Beltline and absorb a swath of hotel rooms that reaches to the Dells, the Dairy Expo is an economy-boosting event that this year celebrates its 50th anniversary of exhibiting the world’s finest dairy cattle and cutting-edge dairy technology. More than 70,000 people are expected to visit from approximately 90 countries.
Locals really should join them, too. It doesn’t matter if your most personal connection to agriculture is that one time your grandpa drove you around Grant County to show you the farm where his mother was born. The World Dairy Expo is cool, and there are a number of reasons to hang out there:
Swag. With all those exhibitors, there’s ample opportunity to grab some goodies even if you don’t know a Class III dairy price from a Class C felony. There is no shortage of pens, koozies, note pads and tote bags, not to mention samples of cheese and other nibbly things being given away. Many freebies get nabbed by the high school FFA crowds, but if you’re really lucky you can snag a mouse pad or whoopee cushion from an exhibitor from Tennessee called Big Ass Solutions (the producer of Big Ass Fans).
Food. For almost a week, the best lunch in town is a grilled cheese sandwich and milkshake from the UW’s Badger Dairy Club tent. It will set you back a whole $3. The club will sell about 30,000 sandwiches, with a different cheese selection daily. The ice cream stand (sponsored by milking equipment giant GEA), also with a changing menu, is always a big deal, too. New this year is a Dairy Happy Hour with free snacks for Expo visitors at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.
Technology. The Expo illustrates that modern agriculture is a space-age enterprise mixed with a monster truck show. Robotic milkers are simply mesmerizing. Many of the health and genetic innovations for the animals give a hint of what might be in store for the future of human life on this planet.
Animals. These aren’t your average cows. They’re the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models of the dairy world, minus the body oil and come-hither looks, and the legends have names like Snickerdoodle. A walk through Expo barns offers a chance to see the world’s most valuable cows get prepared by “cattle fitters,” who can make lucrative and international careers out of getting the bovine beauties to look just so.
Nina Linton
Breeds. Last year MilkSource of Kaukauna earned a historic triple crown with three animals of three different breeds from the same farm taking top honors in their classes — Jersey, Holstein, and the Red and White Holstein. Those are just three of the breeds dubbed by former Wisconsin governor and dairy guru W.D. Hoard as “The Foster Mothers of the Human Race.” The other four, also at the Expo, are Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey and Milking Shorthorn.
Students. The “get off my lawn” types who like to rag on today’s youth haven’t been around farm kids and FFA kids. These teenagers are busy at the Expo showing and caring for cattle, judging, entering competitions and learning skills relating to today’s agricultural world. Hope for the future wears a blue corduroy jacket.
World Dairy Expo
Oct. 4-8 (Tuesday-Saturday), Alliant Energy Center,
$10 daily; $30 for all sessions, worlddairyexpo.com
