News

County COVID restrictions likely gone before World Dairy Expo

Dane County Wisconsin has shown they will likely relax their COVID-19 crowd restrictions in time for World Dairy Expo.  Dane County has offered World Dairy Expo a ten-year contract extension which includes no fees for 2021 and 2022 to allow World Dairy Expo to recover lost revenue from the canceled 2020 event.

The World Dairy Expo board sought bids from other venues across the country in case the event could not be held in Madison.  In a statement, County Executive Joe Parisi says with current rates of vaccination and nearly a half-million dollars’ worth of air handling upgrades at the Alliant Energy Center, it is expected this fall’s World Dairy event will be able to safely occur.

World Dairy Expo General Manager Scott Bentley issued a statement Wednesday saying, “World Dairy Expo appreciates Dane County’s generous offer included in a proposed 10-year contract renewal of the Alliant Energy Center that was received this morning. The offer and contract require time for review and approval by World Dairy Expo’s Executive Committee and staff. A decision will be made later this spring after all implications are thoroughly reviewed. Madison is Expo’s home, and we intend for that legacy to endure for generations to come. World Dairy Expo also remains committed to gathering the global dairy industry again this fall and continuing the tradition as the must-attend event for everyone in the global dairy industry.”

World Dairy Expo was also a partner in efforts to construct the $24 million New Holland Pavilions at the Alliant Energy Center in 2014, which are among the top livestock facilities for shows.

Farmer and State Representative Travis Tranel reacted to the announcement by saying, “Glad to see that Dane County is finally making an effort to ensure that the World Dairy Expo stays in Wisconsin.  Hopefully it is not too late. It should have never come to this!” Last week, Tranel wrote to Governor Tony Evers urging him to step in and do what he could to prevent the loss of World Dairy Expo.