World Dairy Expo is a five-day event showcasing dairy cattle

Cattle

Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

 and the newest technologies available to the dairy industry. The show is held annually at the Alliant Energy Center

Alliant Energy Center

The Alliant Energy Center of Dane County is a multi-building complex in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It comprises of greenspace and includes the Exhibition Hall, the 10,000 seat Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Willow Island, the Arena, and nine modern agricultural exhibit buildings...

 in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

, United States. Considered the largest and most important dairy cattle show in North America, it has been held in the first week of October since 1967.

Themes

One of the unusual aspects about the World Dairy Expo is its themes. Since the late 1980s the show has had a theme, when the showing is decorated with two backdrops that correspond to that years theme. Themes have ranged from the simple to the extravagant, like the "Excitement is Building" theme which had a huge construction-like backdrop.

World Dairy Expo is known for having colored shavings in the showring. The shavings have been dyed many colors. One year's theme was "Crowning Achievements - Golden Opportunities", which is a medieval theme. The theme for 2011 is "Around the World of Dairy in 5 Days".

Cattle Show

Dairy cattle from all over the United States and Canada are exhibited at the show. All seven nationally recognized breeds (Brown Swiss

Brown Swiss

Brown Swiss is a breed of dairy cattle that produces the second largest quantity of milk per annum, over . The milk contains on average 4% butterfat and 3.5% protein, making their milk excellent for production of cheese. The Brown Swiss is known for a long gestation period, immense size, large...

, Holstein

Holstein (cattle)

Holstein cattle is a breed of cattle known today as the world's highest production dairy animal. Originating in Europe, Holsteins were bred in what is now the Netherlands and more specifically in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland...

, Red & White, Guernsey

Guernsey cattle

The Guernsey is a breed of cattle used in dairy farming. It is fawn and white in colour, and is particularly renowned for the rich flavour of its milk, as well as its hardiness and docile disposition.-Milk:...

, Jersey

Jersey cattle

Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...

, Milking Shorthorn

Milking Shorthorn

The Milking Shorthorn or Dairy Shorthorn is a breed of dairy cattle that originated in Great Britain. It developed from the Shorthorn, which itself came from County Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire in north eastern England....

, and Ayrshire

Ayrshire cattle

The Ayrshire cattle is a breed of dairy cattle originated from Ayrshire in Scotland. The average mature Ayrshire cow weighs 1,000-1,300 pounds . Ayrshires have red markings. The red can be an orange to a dark brown, with or without coloured legs. They are known for low somatic cell counts,...

) have a show. After a grand champion from each breed is selected, a final judging is held to determine the best two cows in the show. This is held on the last day (Saturday) and is often referred to as the main event. The show starts out with an introduction of each cow and leadsman (person at the end of the halter) listing both of their achievements. After this is done the cows are judged by all of the breed judges from the past week. After they decide on a cow, the Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion is announced. Pine Haven SSM Marmie did not deserve to be grand champion. September Star Impuls all the way!

Trade Show

World Dairy Expo is also home to the a largest dairy-focused trade show in the world. Over 750 companies from all over the world exhibit to the show's 65,000 attendees. Companies like Fort Dodge

Wyeth

Wyeth, formerly one of the companies owned by American Home Products Corporation , was a pharmaceutical company. The company was based in Madison, New Jersey, USA...

, John Deere

Deere & Company

Deere & Company, usually known by its brand name John Deere , is an American corporation based in Moline, Illinois, and the leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world. In 2010, it was listed as 107th in the Fortune 500 ranking...

, Case IH

Case IH

Case IH is an American mechanical company, one of the world’s largest brands of agricultural equipment. With headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, it has a network of more than 4,000 dealers and distributors that operates in more than 160 countries...

, Land O'Lakes

Land O'Lakes

Land O'Lakes is a member-owned agricultural cooperative based in Arden Hills, Minnesota, focusing on the dairy industry. The co-op states that it has about 3200 producer-members, 1000 member-cooperatives, and about 9000 employees who process and distribute products for about 300,000 agricultural...

, Select Sires, Semex, ABS, and many more make the trip to Madison, Wisconsin, USA every year. World Dairy Expo is recognized as a member of the "Tradeshow Week Top 200", a list honoring the nation's top trade events organized by Tradeshow Week Magazine. World Dairy Expo remains the only Wisconsin event in the “Top 200”, and was ranked #31 in 2009.

Youth Contests

World Dairy Expo offers conferences for the youth in the dairy industry. There are several regional and national judging contests in which teams and individuals from high school FFA

National FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...

 chapters and 4-H

4-H

4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...

programs can compete in as well as a division for Collegiate level teams. Contestants compete for honors in dairy judging, dairy foods and dairy forage. There is a separate junior cattle show for contestants who are college age or younger. This cattle show is separate from the main show and Supreme and Reserve Supreme champions are named the same way as the older contestants. Winning the junior show is almost as prestigious as winning the open show.

2007

Supreme: INDIAN ACRES MM PISTACHIO PIE (Guernsey)

Reserve: LLOLYN JUDE GRIFFEN-ET (Jersey)

2006

Supreme: HURONIA CENTURION VERONICA 20J-Best Cow There has ever been.. (Jersey)

Reserve: KINYON LINJET IDEAL (Holstein)

2005

Supreme: LAVENDER RUBY REDROSE (Red Holstein)

Reserve: BUDJON REDMARKER DESIRE (Holstein)

2004

Supreme: HILLCROFT LEADER MELANIE (Holstein)

Reserve: HURONIA CENTURION VERONICA (Jersey)

2003

Supreme: OLD MILL E SNICKERDOODLE (Brown Swiss)

Reserve: PINE-SHELTER CHEYENNE LEE (Holstein)

2002

Supreme: VAN DYK-K INTEGRITY PARADISE (Holstein)

Reserve: BLACKY ROSE OF BRIARCLIFFS (Jersey)