The 2006 edition of World Dairy Expo has officially come to a close. Now that we have all returned home and have caught up on some much needed rest, we reflect on the busy week that just took place…

What was your favorite cow of the show? Who had the best display in the barns? Which ””Cow on Parade”” statue was your favorite? What seminars were the best? What was the ””got-to-have”” item at the Purple Cow Gift Shop? What was your favorite Grilled Cheese: American or Swiss?

Let us know your thoughts! We all like to ””reflect”” and ””relive”” the Expo week…only 362 days until the 2007 Supreme Champion is named!

America’’s newly crowned Supreme Champions are the Jersey, Huronia Centurion Veronica, and the Holstein, Kinyon Linjet Ideal.  This was an especially exciting victory for Veronica because she was the 2004 Reserve Supreme Champion!  This year was her time to shine and shine she did.  With Norm Nabholz on the halter, Veronica was a vision of beauty in the center of the ring.  An exciting addition to this year’’s Supreme Championship was the presentation of a Toyota Tundra truck!  This is a new element that Toyota hopes to continue in the years to come.  Arethusa Farm of Litchfield, CT, are Veronica’’s owners.  More information about Veronica can be seen at www.arethusafarm.com.

The Reserve Supreme Champion, Kinyon Linjet Ideal, is owned by Mark Reuth & Martin Kinyon of Oxford, WI.  A tremendously powerful cow, Ideal was the HM All-American 5-Year-Old in 2004.  She recently was visited by the classifier and has been nominated for EX-95.  Ideal makes her home at Rosedale - visit their website for more information at www.holsteinworld.com/rosedale.

Congratulations to the owners of these cows and to all of the people that have helped in their development over the years!

Hi everyone!  We hope you have enjoyed our online coverage of the Jersey, Red & White, and Black & White Holstein shows at this year’s World Dairy Expo - thanks for joining us!  I am sitting ringside right now as the Expo staff finishes their preparations for the Supreme Champion ceremony.  We’ve been told it should be a pretty exciting & surprising ceremony this year - its sure to be a first class event!

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to take a look at all the pictures Nick Sarbacker has been able to take this week - the ringside decorations are simply gourgeous.  The Dairy Central theme has been played out quite well with decor that takes you back to the turn of the century.  There are lit street lamps surrounding the ring, station houses for the Madison depot, luggage carts and our very own Expo Express train.  The shavings are a beautiful autumn orange, complimented by dried corn stalks and numerous yellow and orange mum bushes.  And this dairy event wouldn’t be complete with out the many antique milk cans that line the ring.

 Well, I better go, the ceremony is about to begin!

I just heard from Matt & Mandy Nunes of Scientific Holsteins that Debutante Rae’s Red Talent heifer calf is certified *TV - negative for CVM!  She is one of the calves that you could have the opportunity to select from if you are the lucky buyer of Lot #3 in the World Classic Sale on Friday night.  The buyer will have their selection from at least four heifers.  In addition to the red heifer, there are three black & white heifers that are all red carriers - two are *TV.  Two more pregnancies are due 10/30 and two more pregnancies that have yet to be ultrasounded.

This is Scientific’s first ever offering from Debutante Rae, the 2005 All-American 5-Year-Old!  For more information, visit their website at www.holsteinworld.com/Scientific .

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Liz Matzke, Marketing Specialist for World Dairy Expo, about this year’’s event.  As you can imagine, the days for the WDE staff are quite hectic and busy leading up to what they hope is the best show yet!  Despite their busy schedules they were able to answer some questions for me as we all get ready for the 2006 show. 

Can you share some of the highlights we can expect at World Dairy Expo 2006?

This year marks the 40th anniversay of World Dairy Expo.  Since its humble beginnings in 1967, the show has developed into the “Central” meeting place of the industry.  Attendees can expect to see the latest and greatest the dairy industry has to offer in technology and animal genetics.  The Commercial Exhibits continue to grow and diversify, featuring over 1,500 booths from 23 countries.  As always, the dairy show will showcase some of the best cattle in the world with a backdrop of colored shavings and elaborate decor.  Educational seminars and virtual farm tours continue to be forums for new ideas and producer experiences.  All in all, there is something for every size operation and every age producer.

Are there any new additions this year?

There have been some grounds improvements this year, as well as technology improvements.  A new wash rack has been built for cattle exhibitors in the Big Tent.  There has also been additional lighting added around the barns for exhibitor and cattle safety.  International registration is now available online.  And again this year, up to the minute class results are available on our website during the show.

Can you provide some hints as to what this year’’s ringside decorations will look like?

The theme this year is “Dairy Central.”  The idea was derived from New York’’s Grand Central Station.  So, as you can imagine, an old-fashion locomotive and our own Grand Central Station, Dairy Central, will be a part of the showring decorations.  Be sure to stick around for the naming of America’’s Supreme Champion as we have a few surprises in store for the crowd.

What do registration numbers look like for this year?

Overall, this year’’s numbers for the show are slightly up.  Currently, there are just under 3,000 total animals entered in all eight shows.

How is the theme for next year’’s WDE selected?  Has the 2007 theme been selected yet?

Picking each year’’s theme usually starts in March or April of the year before.  Large lists of ideas and concepts are submitted to our General Manager, Tom McKittrick.  Over a period of several weeks, themes are discussed and voted upon by all staff members.  When one idea has been decided upon, it is given to a design company we have worked closely with over the last several years.  They in turn come up with four or five design concepts adn the staff votes again to narrow it down to one design.  From there, posters, postcards, letter head and the like are all developed to help promote the theme.  The 2007 theme has been picked and will be unveiled during the Supreme Ceremony.  All I can say is, next year’’s theme might be one of our more “entertaining” themes.