News Release
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Childs, Fricke, Opsal Join WDE Board of Directors
MADISON, WIS. – World Dairy Expo® welcomed new industry representatives to its Board of Directors, Commercial Exhibitor Committee and Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee at the annual March meetings. The three incoming board members include: Kristine Childs, Nasco; Dr. Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences; and Joseph Opsal, Dane County Holstein Breeders.
Childs leads Nasco’s Farm and Ranch division in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. She has been actively involved in her local community, holding board positions at Spring Prairie Lutheran Church, Arlington Mutual Insurance Company, and volunteering at her local 271 American Legion. Childs grew up involved in 4-H and FFA and has shared that love with her two grown sons, one of which raises show pigs for young exhibitors in multiple states.
Dr. Fricke is a faculty member of the Department of Dairy Science at UW-Madison with appointments in extension and research. Dr. Fricke’s research program focuses on dairy cattle reproduction, aiming to improve reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle by applying knowledge gained through scientific research to develop practical management strategies, assessing new reproductive technologies, and disseminating findings to the global audience.
Opsal has been involved with Expo for many years, exhibiting Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle from his family’s herd, Opsal’s Ridge, spectating, and providing media coverage. He works full-time at Opsal’s Ridge in addition to operating Joseph Opsal Photography and covering events as part of Cowsmopolitan, Inc. Opsal’s involvement in FFA, junior breed associations, and family history have prepared him to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps as a board member of World Dairy Expo.
Joining the Commercial Exhibitor Committee as new members are Terri Smith, Select Sires, Inc., Laura Tresslar, Merck Animal Health, and Karen Lally, VES-Artex. These three industry representatives join the committee chaired by Doug Williams, Kuhn North America, with vice-chair Jane Griswold, Hoard’s Dairyman.
New and re-elected members of the Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee include Lucas Clanton, Ill., Brian Dinderman, Ill., Erica Enright, Ontario, Canada, Lynn Harbaugh, Wis., Jennifer Hill, Md., Terri Packard, Md., Joe Rocha, Ore., Chad Ryan, Wis., Dusty Schirm, Ohio, Eric Topp, Ohio, Mark Valentine, Md., and TJ Wingert, Ill. This exhibitor committee is led by chair Tom Morris, Wis., and vice-chair Bryan Voegeli, Wis.
For a complete list of the World Dairy Expo Board of Directors, Commercial Exhibitor Committee and Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee visit https://worlddairyexpo.com/pages/World-Dairy-Expo-Leadership.php.
Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo brings together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America. The dairy industry will return to Madison, Wisconsin for the 55th event, October 2 – 7, 2022, when the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, dairy and forage seminars, a world-class dairy cattle show and more will be on display. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile event app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube for more information.
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