The global dairy industry is gearing up for the world’s largest dairy-focused event – World Dairy Expo. Officials are anticipating over 65,000 producers and industry professionals gathering from over 90 countries. Dairy enthusiasts that attend can expect to see a wide array of Expo Seminars, Virtual Farm Tours, dairy cattle competition, dairy company displays and contests. The 2012 theme, “Market Fresh, Harvesting Excellence”, exemplifies the show mantra of sharing fresh ideas and innovative market-driven concepts for the future success of dairy producers around the globe. World Dairy Expo, which will be held October 2-October 6 at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin, has become known as the place where the dairy industry meets.

Dairy cattle show fans will be treated to facility improvements this year to enhance their experience as they watch over 2,500 head of North America’s finest cattle parade across the famed “colored shavings”. A new, center-hung video board featuring 472 square feet of screens will provide the best viewing of ExpoTV, featuring each breed class as they are evaluated and placed. The coliseum has been equipped with new energy efficient lighting throughout the facility that produces a brighter view of the Showring. Plus the padded, upholstered seats in the facility have been renovated and expanded.

New Dairy Cattle Show software has been introduced for the 2012 show. The new program utilizes the latest online registration technology while maintaining an easy-to-use and exhibitor-friendly system. The new software, coupled with tablets, should increase the efficiency of the show check-in process and the speed and accuracy of class results. Expanded cattle stalling have been added for 2012. All seven dairy breeds will compete for the ultimate overall Supreme Champion on Saturday, October 6 at 5 p.m.
Dairy producers that want to discover the latest in technologies, products and services should find the New Holland Trade Center a welcome expansion of the huge trade show. Over 850 exhibiting companies from 28 countries will be on display, many unveiling their newest ideas. More than 150 new companies have been added in 2012. Daily Expo Seminars offer the freshest dairy management research and management concepts. Dairy producers will enjoy face-to-face discussion with their peers at the Virtual Farm Tours, which highlight successful dairy operations from across the United States featuring unique facilities, herd management and marketing opportunities.

World Dairy Expo hosts numerous competitions, including national and international judging and skills contests at the 4-H, FFA, Intercollegiate and Post-Secondary levels.  In addition, winners of the 2012 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Products Contest will be sold at auction on the evening of October 2, and winning forage samples from the 2012 World Forage Analysis Superbowl will be on display throughout the week.  Dairy Forage Seminars will offer producers forage quality presentations on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Hours for World Dairy Expo are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, through Saturday. Daily admission is $10 per person and season passes are $30 per person. Parking is free. Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com, contact via email wde@wdexpo.com or call 608-224-6455 for more information.

SCHEDULE

(A) Arena
(C) Coliseum
(SP) Estrumate® Sale Pavilion
(EH) Exhibition Hall

Tuesday, October 2
7:30 a.m.  International Junior Holstein Show (C)
   International Ayrshire Show (C)
1:00 p.m.  Expo Seminar (EH)
2:00 p.m.  International Jersey Show - Heifers (C)
  International Milking Shorthorn Show – Heifers (C)
  Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
7:00 p.m.  Top of the World Jersey Sale (SP)
 
Wednesday, October 3
7:30 a.m.  International Jersey Show - Cows/Groups (C)
10:30 a.m. Dairy Forage Seminar (A)
11:00 a.m. Expo Seminar (EH)
Noon   Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
12:30 p.m. International Milking Shorthorn Show - Cows (C)  
1:00 p.m.  Expo Seminar (EH)
1:30 p.m.  Dairy Forage Seminar
2:00 p.m.  International Brown Swiss Show - Heifers (C)
  Virtual Farm Tour (EH) 
5:00 p.m.  World Dairy Expo’s Dinner with the Stars Reception (EH)
6:30 p.m.  World Dairy Expo’s Dinner with the Stars (EH)
  Join us in honoring the 2012 Recognition Award Winners
7:30 p.m.  World Ayrshire Event Sale (SP)
 
Thursday, October 4 
7:30 a.m.  International Brown Swiss Show - Cows/Groups (C)
10:30 a.m. Dairy Forage Seminar (A)
11:00 a.m. Expo Seminar (EH)
Noon  Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
1:00 p.m.  Expo Seminar (EH)
1:30 p.m.  International Guernsey Show - Heifers (C)
  International Red & White Show - Heifers (C)
  Dairy Forage Seminar (A)
2:00 p.m.  Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
  World Premier Brown Swiss Sale (SP)
  Following the Brown Swiss Sale: World Premier Milking Shorthorn Sale (SP)
5:30 p.m.  World Dairy Expo Youth Showmanship Competition (C)
 
Friday, October 5
7:30 a.m.  International Red & White Show - Cows/Groups (C)
  International Guernsey Show - Cows/Groups (C)
10:30 a.m. Dairy Forage Seminar (A)
11:00 a.m. Expo Seminar (EH)
Noon  International Holstein Show - Heifers (C)
  Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
1:00 p.m.  Expo Seminar (EH)
1:30 p.m.  Dairy Forage Seminar (A)
2:00 p.m.  Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
  International Guernsey Classic Sale (SP)
5:00 p.m.  International Reception (EH)
7:00 p.m.  World Classic ‘12 Holstein Sale (C)
 
Saturday, October 6 
8:00 a.m.  International Holstein Show - Cows/Groups (C)
11:00 a.m. Expo Seminar (EH)
Noon  Virtual Farm Tour (EH)
5:00 p.m.  Parade of Champions and Selection of the 2012 Supreme Champion (C)
6:00 p.m.  World Dairy Expo 2012 Closes
 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Admission:
Includes free parking
12 and over: $10
Season Pass: $30

Trade Show Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibits located in the Arena Building (AR), Coliseum (AL, MC, IL), Exhibition Hall (EH), New Holland Trade Center (TC) and the Outdoor Trade Mall (TM).

Information:
Information booths are located in the Exhibition Hall Lobby and the Coliseum West Lobby.

Restaurants & Food Venues:
Outdoor Food Court – Located in the Outdoor Trade Mall. Features a wide variety of sandwiches, snacks and beverages with additional seating available in the Jefo Dining Hall.
 
Expo Bistro – Located in the Atrium of the Exhibition Hall. Serving an upscale buffet in a formal sit-down atmosphere from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Concession Stands – Three stands located within the Exhibition Hall and six stands in the Coliseum serve a variety of refreshments. Each stand features different menu items.

ATMS:
For attendee convenience, ATMs are located in the West Lobby of the Coliseum, in the Lobby of the Exhibition Hall, in the Outdoor Food Court by the Jefo Dining Hall and next to the Restrooms near Barn 6.

Taxi Service:
Taxis are available during show hours in front of the East Lobby entrance of the Coliseum.

See More Online!
Visit www.worlddairyexpo.com for show coverage as it happens. Up-to-the-minute cattle show results are available. Did you miss a class on the live web feed? You can view the class highlights under “Photos & Videos.” See a full list of participating companies and view their contact information with Expo’s searchable, interactive maps. Cattle Logs and the Expo Daily Edition are also posted for viewing. Be sure to visit the Expo Theater to see daily snapshots of where the dairy industry meets.

Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/worlddairyexpo. Follow us on Twitter at @wdexpo or use the #WDE12 hashtag.

Purple Cow Gift Shop:
Located in the North end of the Exhibition Hall Lobby
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ExpoTV:
World Dairy Expo’s dairy cattle shows will again be webcast live from www.worlddairyexpo.com. It’s the next best thing to being ringside. This free coverage is made possible by the following sponsors: afimilk USA Ltd., BouMatic, Merial, Milk Source Genetics, Sexing Technologies and Z Tags North America, L.P.