Ground Broken for New Barns for World Dairy Expo
The first shovelfulls of earth were dug this morning to break ground for new barns at the Alliant Energy Center (AEC) in Madison, Wis., home to World Dairy Expo.
The $24 million project will encompass two new facilities encompassing 290,000 square feet (or roughly 6 2/3 acres), capable of housing and milking the 2,000 dairy cattle that annually attend World Dairy Expo. Demolition of the barns will begin Monday, April 14, and construction is scheduled to be completed by September 30, the start of World Dairy Expo.
The new buildings are a partnership including Dane County, the State of Wisconsin, World Dairy Expo, the Midwest Horse Council, Centerplate Catering and New Holland North America. World Dairy Expo has committed $3 million to the project, and New Holland has obtained naming rights to the facility for $1.5 million.
The new buildings will replace a hodgepodge of outdated barns, the first of which were built in 1967. The first building of the new facility will be a heated, 90,000 square foot building that will include a pre-function area that will be available for year-round use. The second building, this one encompassing 200,000 square feet, will include a BouMatic, 24-stall walk-through milking parlor and showers. It will not be heated, and will be available for use eight months each year.
"The new space will enhance our ability to conduct world class activities here at the Alliant Energy Center," says Mark Clarke, AEC general manager. "We’re excited to have New Holland Agriculture as a significant partner in our success moving forward."
"We are proud to partner with Dane County to build and provide what will be the premium livestock facility in the country, a tremendous upgrade that will benefit world class dairy, livestock, horses and other livestock throughout the year," says Abe Hughes, vice president New Holland North America. "It was a very easy decision for us to step up to the plate to partner in this project."
For more on the project, click here.
