World Dairy Expo, and therefore Madison, Wis., serves as the meeting place of the global dairy industry — bringing together crowds of 60,000 people from nearly 100 countries. But the latest dairy innovations and best cattle in North America aren’t the only things bringing dairy enthusiasts to Madison each year.
Annually, in conjunction with the global event, companies and organizations plan meetings, conferences, farm tours and events to include World Dairy Expo as part of the experience. Rel Seykora, Secretary of the National 4-H Dairy Conference says, “We want these kids to enjoy World Dairy Expo because of Conference. What we love to see on our feedback forms is ‘seeing the beautiful cows,’ and ‘seeing the colored shavings.’ It’s like kids in a candy shop, they just love it, and that’s what we want: The full-body, cow experience with Conference.” Visit the World Dairy Expo website to learn about more industry events in Madison the first week of October.
National 4-H Dairy Conference
The National 4-H Dairy Conference is an educational experience that takes participants on a trip through the dairy supply chain, from farmer to hauler to stores. “They’re learning so much about nutrition, cow comfort — everything,” Seykora says. “So many things are thrown at the kids but in such a way that they don’t realize how much they are learning and absorbing.”
The conference aims to bring up to 250 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors and first-year college students to Madison. According to Seykora, participants represent around 27 states and three Canadian provinces. “So many of our attendees wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to World Dairy Expo without Conference, so we give them the full experience. We’ve upped our time at the show to eight hours this year, they get the collectible pins and of course the grilled cheese.”
Seykora says the conference attendees gain even more than networking with peers and industry professionals while experiencing Madison during World Dairy Expo. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’ve had kids choose their career paths because of what they learned here.”
World Brown Swiss Conference
Following a history of 11 international Brown Swiss events spanning back to 1980, the U.S. Brown Swiss Association will host the World Brown Swiss Conference in Madison for the third time. Norman Magnussen, Executive Secretary for the U.S. Brown Swiss Association, says the conference is held every four years, rotating between the U.S. and Europe.
“It’s for anybody that likes Brown Swiss cows, from all over the world,” Magnussen says. “We’re meeting with other country associations to discuss what everyone is doing as far as promotion, classification and research.”
With capacity for up to 300, Magnussen says international attendees represent a large portion of the conference. “They want to see cows, do farm tours, and of course with World Dairy Expo, we have North America’s best Brown Swiss all in one place — that’s what they want to come for.”
Magnussen emphasizes the significance of the U.S. being the host country, as a small percentage of the world’s Brown Swiss cattle live on U.S. soil. Although a small population, U.S. Brown Swiss genetics have a global impact and a lot to offer during the international conference.
International Dairy Short Course
Through International Dairy Short Course, Jill Stahl Tyler strives to add value to the investment that international visitors make in traveling to Madison. With learning opportunities across three days, participants can choose from management, nutrition and genetics topics and tours that best fit their needs and interests.
“Most of our international visitors fall into two groups: you have techs, vets, managers, advisers, or they might be farmers themselves,” Stahl Tyler says. “We try to keep that in mind — that no matter what it’s going to be a bottom-line type of thing that can make a difference when they go back home.”
Stahl Tyler says this learning opportunity is something that only exists because of the draw the participants already have to Madison, and adds, “We love World Dairy Expo. I think of it as the international gathering for everybody that loves cows and makes their business from cows. We’re thrilled to be able to put out something that helps people. The course is fun, but you also walk away and see how it’s directly applicable. It may reduce costs, increase milk output or change genetics, nutrition and management.”
