Wisconsin Ag Connection - World Dairy Expo Kicks-Off in Madison

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World Dairy Expo Kicks-Off in Madison
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/30/2014

One of the largest agricultural events in Wisconsin begins today as World Dairy Expo opens its gates in Madison. Officials with the dairy and trade show say they expect about 70,000 people from over 90 countries to attend the five-day event through Saturday.

The festivities kicked off Monday with the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, National Intercollegiate & International Post-Secondary Dairy Cattle Judging Contests, 4-H Awards Banquet and the International Post-Secondary Judging Contest Awards Banquet. The Wisconsin 4-H team placed third in their competition, with Jordan Siemers of Newton named top individual of the event.

Tuesday's show ring activities include the International Junior Holstein Show, International Ayrshire Show and International Jersey Show. The FFA Dairy Judging Contests will also be held today. And the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest will hold an auction of all first place winners on Tuesday, where the proceeds will go to youth dairy programs.

The public will get its chance to see the newly constructed New Holland Pavilions on Tuesday. The 290,000 square-feet structures, which replaced the old barns on the Alliant Energy grounds, will be dedicated during a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Gov. Scott Walker, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, Wisconsin Ag Secretary Ben Brancel and officials with World Dairy Expo, Alliant Energy Center, New Holland, Wisconsin Horse Council/Midwest Horse Fair will all deliver remarks during the event.

Meanwhile, organizers say this year's tradeshow will be larger than ever with about 1,000 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries providing dairy producers a chance to explore everything from new self-propelled feed delivery systems to computerized herd management systems.

Daily entrance fees for World Dairy Expo are $10 per person, or $30 for a season pass. Hours for the event run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

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