Congratulations to Scott Bentley, the new General Manager at World Dairy Expo!
Bentley brings a wealth of industry experience to Expo. Most recently he was the Global Supply Manager at ABS Global, DeForest, Wis., and previously held positions as Global Dairy Product Manager, District Sales Manager and in Dairy Sire Acquisition. Prior to that, Bentley was Field Service Manager at the American Jersey Cattle Association.
In his new role, Bentley will lead World Dairy Expo staff in the strategic planning and implementation of the largest dairy-focused event in the world. He will be responsible for developing innovative initiatives and cultivating partner relationships. As General Manager, Bentley will oversee the responsibilities of WDE Management, including the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, The Dane County Fair and Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation.
Bentley possesses a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Purdue University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Science from Iowa State University. Bentley grew up on a Guernsey farm in Ames, Iowa and now resides in Madison, Wis.
Susan Orth has accepted the position of Trade Show Manager and Crystal McNett has been named Trade Show & Project Coordinator of the World Dairy Expo trade show.
Susan Orth has a wealth of experience in the dairy industry. She grew up on her family’s dairy and livestock farm, Orthridge Farms, in southwest Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006 with a double major in Animal Science and Ag Journalism. During college she interned with Wisconsin State Fair, Bader Rutter & Associates and Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW). Following graduation, Orth was the Communications Specialist at PDPW. She has been on World Dairy Expo’s staff as Sales Specialist since 2009. In her new role, Orth will manage the World Dairy Expo Trade Show, working with the 850+ exhibitors from 28 countries who participate in the show each year. In addition, she will oversee the sponsorships, ensuring Expo’s generous sponsors receive recognition and value through Expo. Susan currently serves on the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board, co-chair of the Programming Committee for the Association of Women in Agriculture and as off-campus advisor of the Badger Dairy Club.
Crystal McNett has been involved in the dairy industry her entire life, having grown up on a dairy and grain farm in southwest Wisconsin. Crystal graduated in 2006 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in Dairy Science and Ag Journalism with Business emphasis. Most recently, Crystal was Sales and Marketing Communications Specialist with Select Sires. Previous to that position, she was Assistant Editor at Agri-View newspaper. In addition, Crystal owns and operates McNett Grain Farms with her father and brother in Belmont, Wis. In her new role, McNett will assist with all aspects of the Expo trade show, including booth sales, sponsorship coordination and on-site event management. McNett joined World Dairy Expo team on April 22 and is based out of the Madison office.
World Dairy Expo is inviting dairy producers and industry professionals from around the globe to make plans now to experience the “Center of the Dairy Universe,” October 1 through October 5 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Expo is the place to exchange ideas with fellow dairy operators, gather cutting-edge information from dairy industry experts and investigate the newest products and technologies. Dairy cattle enthusiasts can take in the action above the famed colored shavings as more than 2,500 head of the finest show cattle in North America compete for the coveted Supreme Champion title. Producers can choose to attend industry-leading Expo Seminars, Virtual Farm Tours and Dairy Forage Seminars featuring dairy researchers and producer colleagues. A trip to World Dairy Expo is a great option for a family trip or incentive for employees.
Visitors are encouraged to make plans now to attend. Hotels are quickly filling for World Dairy Expo 2013. A list of hotels with information including room availability, rates and amenities is located on the World Dairy Expo website. It is best to make your reservations as soon as possible.
For the best prices on air travel, book early! Flights also fill quickly. World Dairy Expo recommends the following airports for travel to the show: The Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), located 20 minutes from World Dairy Expo. General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a 1 ½ hour drive from Madison. O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois is a 3 hour drive from World Dairy Expo.
World Dairy Expo is introducing changes to their dairy cattle health check-in process. In an effort to strengthen the event biosecurity and in accordance with the new USDA Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule, exhibitors bringing cattle to World Dairy Expo will need to have an accepted World Dairy Expo-defined ID tag in the animal’s ear upon entering the grounds.
Within this rule change, registration numbers and breed tattoos will no longer be official identification for interstate transport. At the March 4, 2013 WDE Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee meeting it was approved to require all cattle, including those from Wisconsin, to meet the same World Dairy Expo health check-in identification standard.
The following ID tags will be accepted by World Dairy Expo for health check-in starting in 2013:
• A Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) tag – 15 digit number starting with 124
• A USDA 840 Animal Identification Number (AIN) RFID Tag – 15 digit number starting with 840
• A USDA 840 Animal Identification Number (AIN) Visual Tag – 15 digit number starting with 840
• *A manufacturer coded tamper evident RFID tag – 15 digit number starting with 900 or greater
NOTE: Manufacturer coded RFID tags will be discontinued as official ID by USDA starting in 2015.
It is recommended that U.S. exhibitors with cattle that do not have one of the above 15 digit number accepted ID tags visit with an approved 840 AIN tag distributor to secure 840 AIN RFID tags. All breed associations can provide exhibitors with these 840 AIN ID tags.
Congratulations to the four outstanding dairy leaders who will be honored by the World Dairy Expo.
The World Dairy Expo Recognition Award Winners include:
Dairy Woman of the Year – Karyn Schauf, Indianhead Holsteins, Ltd. of Barron, Wisconsin;
Dairyman of the Year – Velmar Green, Green Meadow Farms of Elsie, Michigan;
Dairy Industry Person of the Year – Ken Nordlund, DVM, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine of Madison, Wisconsin;
and International Person of the Year – Pedro Hugo Testa, Reproductores S.R.L. of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Congratulations to the three new members of the World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors! The new directors include: Olivier Hiers, Larry Purdom and Steve Blessing.
The board is composed of a variety of dairy business professionals from the United States and Canada. Established in 1970 as World Dairy Expo, Inc. (WDE), the board serves in an advisory role to the management.
Olivier Hiers, representing BouMatic, is the Global Marketing Director of that company. He had previously headed the European Marketing Division of BouMatic. Olivier has extensive marketing experience with RFID and medical device development. Additionally, he has hands-on experience as a milker in an Australia dairy. Olivier, Marissabel and their son, Kenneth recently relocated to Madison, Wisconsin.
Larry Purdom, representing Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), serves on DFA’s Board of Directors and as chairman of DFA’s Dairy Educational Political Action Committee. Active in the industry, he is chairman of both the Missouri Dairy Association and Congressional Agriculture Advisory Committee and serves on the Midwest Dairy Association and the county Farm Bureau boards. He previously served on the National Dairy Board. Larry received the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award in 2011. Larry, along with his wife and daughter, milk 140 cows, grow corn silage and hay, and raise a small herd of beef cows on 700 acres in Purdy, Missouri.
Steve Blessing, representing the Purebred Breeders of World Dairy Expo, owns Blessing Farms along with his brother, Stan. They have developed a globally recognized Brown Swiss herd, breeding and showing over 40 All-American Brown Swiss animals and numerous leading A.I. sires. Steve and his family have exhibited cattle at World Dairy Expo for over forty years including winning Grand Champion twice and Reserve Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo. Over the years, Steve has served as president of the Indiana Brown Swiss Association, a member of Indiana Farm Bureau and deacon of his local church. Steve has also judged at state and national dairy cattle shows. Steve and his wife reside in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
The current WDE Executive Committee includes Mike Holschbach, President; Debbie Crave, 1st Vice President; Steve Larson, 2nd Vice President; Al Deming, Secretary/Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair; Bob Kaiser, Interim General Manager; Jim Crowley, Jr., Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent; Dean Hermsdorf, Commercial Exhibitor Committee Chair; Tom Morris, Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee Chair; Jeff Lyon, WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP); Bill Barlass, Purebred Breeders of World Dairy Expo and Bill Hageman, Jr., At-Large Director.
Posted: February 11, 2013 at 3:01 pm
By News Editor
Nominations for the 2013 World Dairy Expo Recognition Award program will be accepted through February 15, 2013. Dairy industry associates are encouraged to nominate people who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and excellence with their farming operation or the industry.
The Dairy Woman and Dairyman of the Year awards are presented to individuals who are active dairy producers and whose primary source of income is derived from their dairy operation. His/her farming operation needs to demonstrate and excel in the breeding of quality animals and efficient production. Progressive management practices, along with involvement in community, government activities, breed organizations and other aspects of the dairy industry will also be considered.
The Industry Person of the Year is presented to an individual in recognition of excellence in research, development, education, marketing or other fields that are part of the dairy industry.
The International Person of the Year will be recognized for significantly contributing to international relations, business development, trade or cooperation in the dairy industry.
Posted: January 10, 2013 at 8:38 am
By News Editor
World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors has begun the search for a new general manager to succeed Mark Clarke. Clarke vacated the post at the end of November. Bob Kaiser is serving in an interim capacity until a new general manager is hired.
Applications are now being accepted for the position. Interested individuals are directed to World Dairy Expo’s home page: www.worlddairyexpo.com where they will find a link with all pertinent details. Questions about the job position should be directed to Bob Kaiser at 608-224-6455, ext. 102. Deadline for position applications will be February 15, 2013.
World Dairy Expo is an annual event, attracting more than 72,000 attendees from 90 countries. It is home to the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show with 850 companies exhibiting from more than 28 countries. Over 2,500 head of the finest dairy cattle in the world compete for honors in the seven breed shows. The five-day dairy industry showcase has a statewide economic impact of $50 million dollars annually.
Posted: December 20, 2012 at 8:23 pm
By News Editor
World Dairy Expo is pleased to announce the official judges for the 2013 dairy cattle show. The individuals who will be responsible for evaluating over 2,300 head of the finest dairy cattle in North America during the five-day event will be:
· International Ayrshire Show – Paul Trapp, Taylor, Wis.
· International Brown Swiss Show – Richard Hill, Cattaraugus, N.Y.
· International Guernsey Show – Gary Estes, Rogersfield, Mo.
· International Holstein Show – Justin Burdette, Mercersburg, Pa.
· International Junior Holstein Show – Pat Conroy, Angola, Ind.
· International Jersey Show – Callum McKinven, Canton de Hatley, Canada
· International Milking Shorthorn Show – Lynn Harbaugh, Marion, Wis.
· International Red & White Show – Michael Heath, Westminster, Md.
The associate judges for each breed will be announced soon. A total of sixteen respected dairy cattle judges are slated for the event.
Posted: December 19, 2012 at 3:43 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to the four volunteers honored by World Dairy Expo for their years of support and outstanding service! The 2012 Friends of Expo honorees include: Robert Fourdraine, Nancy Solberg, Bonnie and Skip Bohse.
Robert Fourdraine was recognized as a Friend of Expo for his assistance in implementing enhanced cattle health check-in procedures. Fourdraine’s education and experience in animal identification and tracking systems has been invaluable to Expo. His support and leadership to assist World Dairy Expo and Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection partners in providing a modern, efficient cattle health check-in process for the world-class event translates into a better, more bio-secure environment for the dairy industry and attendees. Fourdraine is always willing to assist with extra check-in shifts and he provides a friendly, welcoming personality to cattle exhibitors when they arrive at the show.
Nancy Solberg was honored as a Friend of Expo for her many years of service to the dairy cattle show entry process. This Mauston native started working for Expo seasonally between jobs. After moving to nearby Fitchburg for her career, she continued to work for World Dairy Expo as needed. Her hourly workload capacity, careful attention to detail and cross referencing abilities has benefited the cattle entry process for many years. Solberg has assisted throughout the many cattle entry system changes, evolving from paper spreadsheets to the current computer software.
Bonnie Bohse started volunteering after her curiosity sparked a question to a friend about World Dairy Expo. That first question turned into many years of service, most recently as a host for the Virtual Farm Tours and Expo Seminars. Bonnie’s husband, Skip, soon joined in to help as well. He utilizes his former high school football whistle blowing skill to assist as a volunteer in directing the tractor and tram to pick up visitors. Bonnie and Skip have both volunteered at World Dairy Expo, both earning their recognition as 2012 Friends of Expo.
Posted: December 13, 2012 at 2:56 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Bob Kaiser who has been named the Interim General Manager of World Dairy Expo.
Bob will be overseeing the daily operations of World Dairy Expo and WDE Management which provides management services to the Dane County Fair, North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation and the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association. Kaiser is working at the Expo office located in Madison.
Kaiser joins the World Dairy Expo team with a wealth of experience. Having just retired in January, 2012, as University of Wisconsin Extension Dairy Management Specialist and Dodge County Dairy Agent, Kaiser has over 32 years of experience working with dairy producers, industry and educational partners. He started as a volunteer for Expo in 1988. Kaiser worked as the Ayrshire Breed Superintendent (2001 to 2006) and later as Dairy Cattle Superintendent from 2007 to 2011.
The Expo Executive Committee is finalizing job position details and will unveil the permanent general manager application process soon.
Posted: November 17, 2012 at 9:00 am
By News Editor
Best wishes to Mark Clarke, General Manager of World Dairy Expo, who has submitted his resignation. Clarke has accepted another management position that will be announced soon.
At the time when Clarke took over as leader of World Dairy Expo, it was a well-established dairy industry event. In 2007, the event was drawing 66,000 visitors including 2,100 international guests from 80 countries. The recent 2012 event hosted nearly 72,000 visitors and 2,950 of those traveled from 95 countries. The dairy cattle show has become recognized as the most important dairy cattle competition in the world with over 2,300 head of cattle. World Dairy Expo continues to gain respect as “the place where the dairy industry meets” and at the recent event hosted 863 commercial trade show companies from 28 countries that unveiled the latest dairy technologies, innovations and concepts.
During Clarke’s leadership, Expo initiated a world-class dairy cattle health check-in policies and procedures system that better protects the dairy cattle exhibitors, attendees and dairy industry. During his tenure Expo has gained further financial stability and now encompasses reserves that allow flexibility and opportunity for future investments to ensure that the event will continue to thrive and succeed in the future. Most recently, Clarke was appointed to the Alliant Energy Center Task Force, along with other key stakeholders, to study needed facility improvements and potential partnership opportunities to enhance the usability of the site for a wide variety of events including World Dairy Expo.
Clarke has led the World Dairy Expo staff since 2007. He was the fifth person to serve as General Manager in World Dairy Expo’s 46 year history. Bruce Walter managed the first show in 1967; Bev Craig led the organization for the next twelve years and Brad Rugg for seven years following Craig. Tom McKittrick, who resigned in 2007 served as the general manager for nineteen years prior Mark Clarke. World Dairy Expo is a non-profit organization. Its for-profit subsidiary, WDE Management Inc., provides management services to the Dane County Fair, the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge and the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association.
Yellow boots. And they’re not rubber! They’re polyurethane. Why? Because they last 3-4 times longer.
Now that’s important to today’s dairy farmer. These are Prima Tech boots and they were on display at World Dairy Expo. Besides being longer lasting they are insulated, lighter and very slip resistant. I got my pair and put them on for the first time today. At World Dairy Expo I met Cindy Woodward, Global Marketing Manager, and talked with her about this new product. You can listen to that interview below.
Here’s the Prima Tech Promise:
Prima Tech promises to provide you — farmer, cattleman or hog producer — with durable, reliable, consistent animal health applicators. We have talked and worked directly with you, our customers. We have learned the lessons of the field and offer a line that withstands the daily punishment of farm use. We are dedicated to making the Prima Tech name and seal the quality mark of the animal health equipment industry. We will accept nothing less than to become the standard against which others are judged.
Posted: October 26, 2012 at 1:59 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Because dairy producers can’t afford to leave dollars on the table, especially in today’s competitive market, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) believes helping to prevent disease is a more effective way to maintain animal health than simply treating diseases as they arise.
“We’ve come up with a model called Prevention Logic,” said Dr. Bruce Vande Steeg, BIVI Technical Services Veterinarian, at the World Dairy Expo. “We look at four levels. There’s the healthy herd, where most animals live, then you have a sub-clinical area of disease – be that sub-clinical hypocalcemia, underlying BVD, PI animal.” Beyond that, level three is clinical disease where animals are clearly sick and need to be treated and finally level four where an animal needs to be culled. “The idea is, no matter where we’re at – 4, 3 or 2 – we want to move those animals back to one.”
Vande Steeg says this strategy is particularly important with the sub-clinical level. “Those animals not mixing feed, not transporting feed through its body, not absorbing the nutrients,” he said. “We fix those issues, then that cow can really perform to her utmost.”
As a five star sponsor of World Dairy Expo New Holland brought a lot to the show lot. New tractors rounded out the offerings that dairy farmers found when they visited and talked with representatives like Mike Cornman.
One of three new models on display was the new TS6 Series which is an all-purpose “Lean & Mean” tractor that delivers big performance at an economical price. The four TS6 models range from 90- to 115-PTO horsepower: two models are equipped with 4-cylinder engines and two models feature 6-cylinder engines. All four models are available with either 2WD or 4WD, and with a flat-deck ROPS operator station or an all-weather cab.
Posted: October 21, 2012 at 8:13 pm
By Jamie Johansen
Milk does the body good! But that household phrase doesn’t mean consumers are drinking as much as they used to. The demand for milk has decreased, but the dairy industry is hard at work to make that change. Thanks to partnerships with Dairy Checkoff, you might be seeing lactose free or higher protein milk on shelves. Or different flavors and packaging. Chuck chatted with Steve Maddox, Chairman of the National Dairy Board and California dairy farmer, about these very ideas at the recent World Dairy Expo.
“We have a crisis. In the last 40 years we have had a decrease in the general consumption of milk per capita and it’s excelled in the last two years. That’s distressful for the industry because for the majority of the dairymen that is the highest value in milk prices. Although on the flip side of that, for bottlers and processors, it is the narrowest margin they have. And so that leads to a lack of innovation for the bottlers. So, what we are doing at DMI is putting out $14 million of seed money and grants to innovate the industry through lactose free products, change in bottling, container design, advertising or different formulations for the demanding consumer.”
“The decrease in fluid milk sales and consumption is an industry problem and its got to be solved industry wide, not just from our promotion and checkoff dollars and in doing this grant we can get the partners.”
Posted: October 19, 2012 at 4:03 pm
By News Editor
Dairy cattle exhibitors are encouraged to enter eligible animals into the 2015 World Dairy Expo International Futurity now.
Planning is already underway for the Three-Year-Old Futurity competition. Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn and Red & Whites will select a Futurity winner for each breed, and then crown the 2015 World Dairy Expo International Futurity overall winner and reserve. Futurity entries will close November 1, 2012 at midnight (CST).
Animals eligible for the 2015 WDE Futurity must be born between September 1, 2011-August 31, 2012. The current one-time Futurity entry fee is $50. World Dairy Expo’s stalling/entry fee must be paid the year of the event, as well. Paper and online entries will be accepted.
Posted: October 19, 2012 at 9:39 am
By Jamie Johansen
The image of agriculture throughout the United States is a fragile one. We have fewer people involved in production agriculture and that equals more consumers who don’t understand where their foods comes from. During the 2012 World Dairy Expo, Chuck talked with California diary producer, Ray Prock about the image in the non-farmer audience concerning agriculture and especially the dairy industry. They also discussed the role of social media in agriculture and how dairy producers are utilizing this industry changing tool.
“There is a huge need for this. Farmers have become more efficient. There ends up being fewer farmers out their in production agriculture. And we have more people in the cities everyday going to the grocery store who don’t know where their food comes from. It is programs like the Fuel Up To Play 60 that we created through the National Management Board and National Dairy Board where we are getting into schools. It is in 73,000 schools throughout the United States.”
“Students are getting leadership positions and helping their schools change their culture to become more fitness and nutritious minded and its not just about selling more dairy. Its about getting these kids to invest in their healthy lifestyles. And at the end of the day when they realize it was the dairy farmers that helped them get that culture change in their schools, they are able to realize that we are people too and we care about them too, especially the kids. There are stories of kids where their lives are changing because of programs like this. It takes these kids and gives them leadership abilities in school.”
You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Ray here: Ray Prock Interview
Posted: October 18, 2012 at 7:41 pm
By Jamie Johansen
Partnerships equal progress and this has rang true for the Diary Checkoff and a well-known pizza delivery service. With the sales of pizza cheese plummeting, DMI sought a partnership that would benefit the dairy industry and pizzas lovers alike. It has proven successful and during the recent World Dairy Expo, Chuck talked with New York dairy farmer, Skip Hardie about what the teaming of the two means for the future of the dairy industry.
“I think probably the partnership that means the most to us is the one that really started DMI down the partnership path in general and that is the one with Domino’s. To go even further back, the pizza category was going down hill fast. The pizza cheese sales were down and it didn’t look bright. DMI looked at this and said we need to address this issue fast and hard. We did some market research, looked around for a partner and said we think we know what it will take to fix this. It’s simple but it will take a commitment. And Domino’s seemed to be a leader in the industry and were willing to work with us. So, we said try putting more cheese on your pizza.”
For more information about the DMI’s partnership with Domino’s check out news from Dairy Check.
DeLaval has a new vision. I learned about it at World Dairy Expo from Christian Poggensee, Regional President, North America. Simply put it is, “We make sustainable food production possible.” Christian says it’s not a target but rather something the company wants to be perceived as. Our conversation is contained in this week’s ZimmCast, a regular podcast on AgWired.com.
The company launched their sustainability initiative several years ago. New products development keeps four things in mind: Environment, Animal Welfare, Social Responsibility and Farm Profitability. DeLaval became a sponsor of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards earlier this year.
One of the more fun products by DeLaval that accomplish this are their Swinging Cow Brushes! These were on display in the DeLaval exhibit at World Dairy Expo.
The DeLaval swinging cow brush SCB is designed to improve cow health, comfort and welfare. The swinging cow brush SCB, which starts to rotate on contact, is a revolution in cow care and cow comfort. The unique brush which rotates at an animal-friendly speed, swings freely in all directions, smoothly up, over and alongside the cow to provide comfort all around.
Learn more about what’s new with DeLaval in this week’s ZimmCast: The New DeLaval Vision
Congratulations to Scott Bentley, the new General Manager at World Dairy Expo!
