8 World Dairy Expo "Must Do's"
With so much to see and do, plotting out a strategy to make the most of your time at World Dairy Expo (WDE) can be a daunting task. To help get you started, we’ve offered up the following list of activities considered absolute “musts.”
1. Attend a world-class Dairy Cattle Show
From early Tuesday morning through late Saturday afternoon, some of the world’s finest dairy cattle are found gracing the colored shavings in shows featuring all seven dairy breeds. In all, more than 2,400 dairy cattle and 1,700 exhibitors from throughout North America compete in the shows. If you aren’t able to catch one of the breed shows earlier in the week, not to worry. You can still attend the Parade of Champions and witness the selection of Expo’s Supreme Champion on Saturday afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. in the Coliseum.
2. Invest in a future champion
With sales throughout the week, WDE offers opportunities for purchasing top-flight dairy cattle genetics, both live animals and embryos. Included are the Top of the World Jersey Sale and World Ayrshire Event Sale on Wednesday, the World Premier Brown Swiss Sale and World Premier Milking Shorthorn Sale on Thursday, and International Guernsey Classic Sale on Friday, all will be held in the Estrumate Sale Pavilion. The World Classic ‘17 Holstein Sale will be held in the Coliseum on Friday.
3. Get ‘wowed’ at the Trade Show
Featuring nearly 900 exhibitors from 30 countries, WDE’s Trade Show is the biggest and best of its kind. Along with providing opportunities for seeing the newest and best in dairy products and services, the dairy-specific show offers the chance to pick up information and knowledge from key company representatives staffi ng the exhibits. Venues include the Coliseum, the New Holland Trade Center, the Arena Building, Exhibition Hall and the Outdoor Trade Mall. Tip: Bring your best pair of walking shoes.
4. Create a visual memory
Since its construction in 1967, a 20'-tall globe has served as the perfect background for visitors looking to capture a photographic souvenir of their visit. Last year, the WDE Board of Directors gifted guests with another photo opportunity and introduced Miss Madison, a 6,900-lb. granite cow statue. This new landmark is found across the street from the globe, outside the northeast corner of New Holland Pavilion 1.
5. Indulge your sweet tooth
What would a trip to the greatest dairy show on earth be without an opportunity to sample a scoop of tasty ice-cream? Thanks to the GEA Ice Cream Stand, in the lobby of the Exhibition Hall, the question is moot. Tempting offerings have run the gamut from traditional flavors like strawberry and black cherry to more exotic varieties like Caramel Collision and Pirates Bounty.
6. Recharge in the family lounge
World Dairy Expo is a great family outing, but the excitement can over-stimulate even the calmest of young ones. The family lounge (on the Mezzanine Level of the Exhibition Hall) gives families an opportunity to recharge. It features a changing table and nursing station and is stocked with beverages, snacks, diapers, wipes and other baby care essentials.
7. Munch on a grilled cheese sandwich
You’re bound to work up an appetite covering the miles of aisles woven throughout the Alliant Energy Center during World Dairy Expo. A quick stop at the Cheese Stand, located between the Coliseum and Arena Building, is the perfect way to refuel. And it’s cost-efficient, too. A grilled cheese sandwich—American, Swiss or cheese of the day, featuring some of Wisconsin’s finest specialty cheeses—and milk shake will set you back just a few bucks.
8. Shop the Purple Cow
Whether you’re trying to find a souvenir to take back to those who weren’t able to come with you to Expo, get a head start on holiday shopping or pick up a memory of your trip to Madison, you’ll want to make a stop at Expo’s Purple Cow Gift Shop. There you will find hundreds of items including apparel featuring the official World Dairy Expo logo, toys and stuffed animals and dairy-related novelty items. Open daily during Expo, the shop is located on the first floor of the Exhibition Hall.
Note: This story appears in the 2017 World Dairy Expo program.
