Industry Meetings & Events

While the global dairy industry is meeting in Madison, the city is proud to host the National 4-H Dairy Conference in conjunction with World Dairy Expo.

Expo attendees can also benefit from a variety of special industry hosted seminars and meetings. Most of these events are free with Expo admission and offer an opportunity to meet and talk with fellow producers from down the road or around the globe.

For additional information about these events, please contact the hosting company. To locate these meeting spaces, download the WDE Mobile Event App.

The 2024 industry meetings and events are below! 

Career Connections
Hosted by: World Dairy Expo & National Dairy Shrine
Monday, September 30 in Atrium, Exhibition Hall

Looking for something new professionally or struggling with where to begin? Career Connections is your tool to connect with job and internship opportunities in the dairy industry! Through Careers Connections, high school and college students as well as young dairy professionals will connect with World Dairy Expo's commercial exhibitors, sponsors, Dairy Cattle Show exhibitors.

Registration information coming soon.

National Dairy Shrine Reception and Awards Banquet
Hosted by: National Dairy Shrine
Monday, September 30 in Mendota 1-4, Exhibition Hall from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The annual awards banquet highlights the past, present and future of the dairy world. Students receive numerous scholarships, current dairy leaders are honored for their success and prominent dairy leaders are honored for their lifetime of work by their election into the National Dairy Hall of Fame. 

*Ticket Required. Order tickets here.

Local Farm Tours
Hosted by: Global Dairy Outreach and Global Cow
Tuesday, October 1 & Wednesday, October 2 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

During the afternoons of October 1 and 2, inbound buyers at World Dairy Expo can register to attend farm tours and visit with farm owners and managers providing details about their operations.

“The tours showcase Wisconsin farms with great management,” notes Karen Nielsen of Global Dairy Outreach, who has been organizing farm tours during World Dairy Expo since 1996. “We balance a smaller dairy with a larger dairy, so visitors can get a feel for varying types of operations.” This year’s tours include 250-cow to 3,000-cow dairies; various styles of parlors including robotic, rotary and herringbone; farms with agricultural tourism operations; on-farm processing; on-farm sales and more.

Tours depart at 12:30 p.m. from the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall. Participants return to the grounds by 6 p.m. Space is limited.

For more details, please contact Karen Nielsen, Global Dairy Outreach LLC at  karen@globaldairyoutreach.com | (608) 512-5040 or Jill Stahl Tyler, Global Cow at info@globalcow.com | (802) 254-2879.

Managing Udder Issues with OZOLEA-MAST in Lactation and for Drying Off: Field Data from a US Dairy System
Presenters: Bradley Heins, Ph.D., Professor, University of Minnesota & Elisa Tavilli, Communication Specialist, OZOLEA
Hosted by: OZOLEA Rete Agricola
Wednesday, October 2 in Monona & Wingra Rooms, Exhibition Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Since 2022, Professor Bradley J. Heins (University of Minnesota), Extension Specialist in dairy management, has been trialing OZOLEAMAST in the Uni dairy herd in Morris (MN). This non-withhold animal device for intra-mammary use has proved to be effective for lowering high SCC in chronical cows, and for allowing steady SCC levels in the first months after calving when used at dry-off. OZOLEA will introduce the product, and then will give the floor to Professor Heins, presenting results of his independent research on the product, with new insights on the most recent work at dry-off. 

Securing the Future: Lessons in Dairy Farm Transitions
Hosted by: National Young Cooperators Program
Thursday, October 3 in Mendota 2, Exhibition Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Join the National Young Cooperators Program for an engaging panel discussion featuring dairy farmers who will share their firsthand experiences with farm transition. This session offers a unique opportunity to learn from those who have navigated the complexities of transitioning farm ownership and management. Panelists will openly discuss what concepts and strategies worked well and candidly explore the challenges and setbacks they encountered along the way. Whether you’re just beginning to think about succession farm transition or actively executing a transition plan, this session will provide practical insights and lessons learned to help you avoid common pitfalls and build a stronger, more secure future for your farm.

Speakers: Ben Smith (Cool Lawn Dairy), Hannah Lansing (J&K Dairy), Steve Ohlde (Ohlde Family Farms) and Myron Czech (New Heights Dairy LLC); Facilitated by Jay Joy and Bruce Vande Steeg (Bridgeforth LLP).

Exporters Workshop
Hosted by: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
Thursday, October 3 in Mendota 4, Exhibition Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Exporters, breeders, veterinarians, and freight providers are invited to an Exporters Workshop at World Dairy Expo. Covering the global dairy outlook, export protocols, certification, financing, and order fulfillment, this event will feature experts from University of Wisconsin-Madison, USDA-APHIS, Export-Import Bank, and Livestock Exporters Association of the USA (LEA).

This event is free, but registration is required. Visit https://forms.office.com/g/ws9nZdCJTW to register.

Exclusive Insights: H5N1 Biosecurity and Management Strategies for Dairy Farms
Hosted by: National Young Cooperators Program
Thursday, October 3 in Mendota 2, Exhibition Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

In this session, we are exploring how to address current H5N1 challenges to the industry with best practices for mitigating risk and preparing for the future. How can you prepare for an H5N1 outbreak on your farm? Could your workforce be at risk? How is the virus spreading? And what could be coming as regulatory expectations at the farm level? With a panel that can speak to these top concerns, you will hear straight from a dairy producer who has faced an outbreak on his farm, a leading epidemiologist following the virus’s path of transmission and the veterinarian who is monitoring World Dairy Expo while more than 2,000 head of dairy cattle converge on one site. And leave with a checklist of FARM’s Biosecurity recommendations to empower your own preparedness plan.

FMMO Modernization: Navigating the Road Ahead
Hosted by: National Young Cooperators Program
Thursday, October 3 in Mendota 2, Exhibition Hall from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

As the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) modernization process unfolds, dairy farmers will face significant transitions. This will provide an overview of what dairy farmers can expect in the months and years ahead as the industry adapts to USDA’s proposed policy updates should they be implemented. Expert panelists will discuss the immediate impacts of the proposed changes as well as the longer-term structural adjustments needed to ensure the FMMO system continues to support a fair and competitive marketplace.

Speakers: Peter Vitaliano (NMPF), Somula Schwoeppe (Schwoeppe Dairy LLC) and Pete Kappelman (Land O’Lakes, Inc.); Facilitated by Bob Bosold (WAXX/WAYY)

International Dairy Symposium: Milk Quality and Dairy Reproduction/Genetics
Presenters: Paul Fricke, Ph.D., Professor & Extension Specialist - Dairy Cattle Reproduction, UW-Madison & Pam Ruegg, Ph.D., Dairy Science Emeritus Professor - Physiology & Management, UW-Madison
Hosted by: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
Thursday, October 3 in Mendota 4, Exhibition Hall from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The International Producer Symposium will provide information on dairy business profitability for global dairy producers. 

Dr. Fricke will present “Building a Foundational Repro Program.” The session is focused on reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle, applying knowledge gained through scientific research, developing practical management strategies, and assessing new reproductive technologies. 

Dr. Ruegg’s specialty is mastitis and milk quality, specifically bridging the gap between research and practical applications on dairy farms. Her session, “Gaining a Competitive Edge in Milk Quality,” will share expertise gained from travel to dairy farms around the world. 

The event is free with World Dairy Expo admission, but seating is limited. Visit https://forms.office.com/g/YyYTQXY4BP to register.

The Next Generation of Cow Monitoring
Hosted by: CowManager
Thursday, October 3 in Mendota 3, Exhibition Hall from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

CowManager is proud to introduce its newest innovations at World Dairy Expo. Ten years ago, CowManager was the first ear sensor to monitoring cows in the US and we are now introducing the next generation in cow monitoring.

Dr. Peter Hut is a veterinarian (DVM), diplomat of the European College of Bovine Health Management, and holds a PhD in sensor data for dairy cows. As a Product Manager at CowManager, he combines his scientific background, deep understanding of bovine health and cutting-edge technology, to improve dairy herd management and drive productivity gains.

AMERICAN DAIRY COALITION PRESS CONFERENCE: Winners and Losers: A Discussion About USDA’s Proposed Milk Pricing Reforms
Hosted by: American Dairy Coalition
Thursday, October 3 in Wingra, Exhibition Hall from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Media and Expo attendees are invited for a presentation from American Farm Bureau economist Danny Munch at 2:30 and drop-in interview opportunities with producers and grassroots organization leaders between 2:00 and 4:00.

Danny Munch earned his Master of Science in Ag and Food Economics at Cornell and today is an Economist within American Farm Bureau, specializing in dairy markets, as well as covering other areas. He developed testimony, analysis and exhibits representing AFBF members and policy during the USDA Federal Milk Marketing Order hearing.

University of Wisconsin-River Falls Alumni Reception
Hosted by: University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Thursday, October 3 in Waubesa, Exhibition Hall from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A reception for UWRF alumni to reconnect with one another and the UWRF College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The Dean of the College will be present along with several faculty members. Refreshments will be provided.