World Dairy Expo kicks-off on Tuesday for its annual five-day run at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Show Manager Mark Clarke says all indications are this will be a big show this year. Clarke says based off what we’ve seen from requests for international travel, based off the number of cattle entries and based off the number of commercial exhibitors, “we’re in for a good show.”
International attendance at the show does vary from year-to-year depending upon the global economy and security among other things but right now Clarke says the global economy looks ok and there is a big push in China, India and Russia to build their dairy industry. “And they are really counting on the U.S. not only from a genetics standpoint but from a management standpoint as well.” The type of international individual attending the show varies greatly as well. Some are private entrepreneurs while others are representing their government.
Clarke says attendees are going to notice some upgrades at the show this year including new lighting in the Coliseum and the dairy barns. There is also a new 4-sided LED video scoreboard over the show ring and the seats have all been reupholstered. In the trade show, another 26,000 square feet has been put under-roof in the New Holland Trade Center, “That helped us bring in some new companies that were on our waiting list.”
Over the next five days, Clarke and his WDE management team, an army of volunteers including the U.W. Badger Dairy Club and 100 to 150 employees will work to make this show worth the trip for all those visitors.
AUDIO:Clarke talks about the show 9:00 mp3
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