By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

MADISON, Wis. — Legendary. Only one word could be used to describe some of the most famous dairy cows in the world parading through the famed colored shavings in Madison, the World Dairy Expo is expected to be one of the best in history. Legendary.

Returning for its 43rd annual appearance, the World Dairy Expo (WDE), Sept. 29-Oct. 3, will welcome thousands of attendees, more than 725 commercial exhibitors and more than 2,500 show cattle to the Alliant Energy Center, an expansive show complex in central Wisconsin.

“In a ‘best of seven’ games, the World Series determines America’s champion baseball team. Likewise, World Dairy Expo, in a ‘best of seven’ breed shows, crowns America’s Supreme Champion cow. Both are a culmination of a year’s hard work – both are events that bring together the ‘best in the business.’ Last year, more than 68,000 people from 84 countries attended the show,” said Lisa Behnke, marketing manager for WDE.

Behnke said that more than 2,000 head are expected to parade across the colored shavings this year, competing amid the world’s best in one of seven national and international breed shows and the Kingsmill Farm II International Futurity.

The largest breed shows at the Expo continue to break records including the International Holstein Show, Central National Brown Swiss Show and the Central National Jersey Show. Other nationally-recognized dairy breeds taking stride in the Expo shavings include the Aryshire, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn and the Red & White Holstein.

While the breed shows take place throughout the week, attendees are also invited to take advantage of free education seminars on dairy management and other industry issues such as social media, nutrition, health and animal welfare, biosecurity training, employee management and leadership, environmental regulations, reproductive technologies and forage management.

In addition to seminars, the Expo will also offer a series of virtual farm tours, focusing on a variety of operation types and sizes, from both the United States and Canada. Free with admission, the tours will present a pictorial view of farms that excel in new technology integration, forage quality, cutting edge facilities, genetics, cross-breeding, embryo transfers, employee relationships and keeping dairying a family business. Featured farms include Valley Vu Dairy in Cumberland, Wis.; Fietzer Dairy Farms in Manawa, Wis.; JER-Z-BOYZ Ranch in Pixley, Calif.; Tauscher Farms, Inc. in Green Bay, Wis.; Stone-Front Farm in Lancaster, Wis.; Voegeli Brown Swiss Farm in Monticello, Wis.; Schutte Dairy Farm in Monona, Iowa; and Monte Chico, Ballesteros in Cordoba, Argentina.

Industry enthusiasts are also invited to attend World Dairy Expo’s dinner with the stars on Wednesday evening, Sept. 30.Four individuals will be recognized for their hall of fame achievements in the dairy industry, including Daphne Holterman, Wis. – Dairy Woman of the Year, David Hileman, Penn. – Dairyman of the Year, Maurice Core, Ohio – Industry Person of the Year and Dr. Jan Phillipsson, Sweden – International Person of the Year.

According to Behnke, the Expo offers something for everyone, from those with a love for show cattle to commercial producers with a eye on the latest technologies and innovations in the industry.

The Expo will open its gates at 9 a.m. daily and close at 5 p.m. Daily admission is $8 per person and season passes are $25 per person. Parking is free to attendees. For more details, call WDE staff at 608-224-6455 or go online at www.worlddairyexpo.com