WEBVTT 00:00:10.369 --> 00:00:13.269 Hey, dairy champions. Welcome to the Bullvine 00:00:13.269 --> 00:00:15.730 Podcast. And if you think genomic selection is 00:00:15.730 --> 00:00:18.050 precise, wait until you hear how to hack World 00:00:18.050 --> 00:00:22.269 Dairy Expo 2025. We're tearing open the playbook 00:00:22.269 --> 00:00:25.690 on Madison's ultimate dairy showdown, where 650 00:00:25.690 --> 00:00:30.000 -plus exhibitors, 1 ,600 elite cattle, and global 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.320 innovators collide. This isn't just another farm 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:35.939 show. It's your operation's secret weapon for 00:00:35.939 --> 00:00:38.820 2026 profits. We'll break down the colored shaving 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:42.119 strategy, from timing breed shows like a lactation 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:45.560 cycle to extracting ROI from every trade show 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:48.719 aisle. You'll get the inside track on international 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.979 networking hacks, weatherproof packing, spoiler, 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:55.359 leave the barn boots at home, and why Thursday's 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:57.789 happy hour at the Tanbark could net you more 00:00:57.789 --> 00:01:01.450 than free cheese curds. Stick around. We're serving 00:01:01.450 --> 00:01:04.629 up more actionable insights than a robotic milkers 00:01:04.629 --> 00:01:06.689 data dashboard. All right, let's get into it. 00:01:06.730 --> 00:01:09.909 We're talking about the big one, World Dairy 00:01:09.909 --> 00:01:13.450 Expo 2025 in Madison. Yeah, this isn't just any 00:01:13.450 --> 00:01:15.810 farm show, is it? It's like the global hub for 00:01:15.810 --> 00:01:18.430 everything dairy for a week. Exactly. Think of 00:01:18.430 --> 00:01:20.510 it as the place where you can really get a leg 00:01:20.510 --> 00:01:22.849 up, find that competitive edge for your operation. 00:01:23.069 --> 00:01:26.280 It's huge. It really is. You can't just show 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.819 up blind, right? Oh, definitely not. It's like 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:31.780 managing your herd without any records. You see 00:01:31.780 --> 00:01:34.340 a lot, but maybe miss the crucial stuff. That's 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:36.939 a good analogy. So today we're basically going 00:01:36.939 --> 00:01:40.939 to be your guide, your insider's playbook for 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:44.689 WDE 2025. Right. We want to give you, the folks 00:01:44.689 --> 00:01:46.989 who really know dairy, the essential info to 00:01:46.989 --> 00:01:48.969 make the most of your time and, let's be honest, 00:01:49.069 --> 00:01:51.170 your money when you head to Madison. Okay, let's 00:01:51.170 --> 00:01:53.090 get down to the nitty gritty. First things first, 00:01:53.329 --> 00:01:55.969 the dates. Okay, mark these down. The main event, 00:01:56.150 --> 00:01:59.790 World Dairy Expo 2025, runs Tuesday, September 00:01:59.790 --> 00:02:02.530 30th through Friday, October 3rd. But wait, there's 00:02:02.530 --> 00:02:04.959 more, right? The pre -show stuff. Yeah, exactly. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:07.599 Things actually start kicking off earlier on 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:09.680 Saturday, September 27th. That's when you've 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.740 got the youth competition, some early breed shows 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:14.439 starting up. So it can be a full week if you're 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:18.460 really keen. Good to know. Now, tickets. Everyone 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:20.479 wants to save a bit, right? How does that work? 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:24.099 It pays to plan ahead for sure. If you buy your 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:26.659 daily admission tickets before September 29th, 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:30.659 they're $15 a day. And if you wait? Then it jumps 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:33.060 to $20 at the gate. So a little saving there. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.259 And if you're going for multiple days, which, 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:37.699 let's face it, you probably should. Yeah, there's 00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:39.759 a lot to see. The season pass is the way to go. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:43.340 It's $40 if you buy it beforehand. $50 on site. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:46.360 And what about kids? Bring in the family. Good 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:48.759 news there. Kids under 12 getting completely 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.300 free, which is great. You know, get the next 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:54.159 generation fired up about dairy. Nice. And getting 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:56.300 the tickets themselves. Easy enough. Oh, yeah. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:58.500 Super easy. They do digital tickets online. You 00:02:58.500 --> 00:02:59.800 can print them out, show them on your phone, 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:02.699 or even share them digitally with your farm team 00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:04.539 if you're splitting up the days. That's handy. 00:03:05.539 --> 00:03:08.580 Okay, travel. How do folks get to Madison? Closest 00:03:08.580 --> 00:03:12.479 airport is Dane County Regional MSN. Super convenient, 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:14.740 like 20 minutes away from the Alliant Energy 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:18.060 Center. Okay. Any other options if flights there 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:20.930 are tricky? Sure. Milwaukee's Mitchell International, 00:03:21.210 --> 00:03:23.770 MKE, that's about maybe an hour and a half drive. 00:03:24.009 --> 00:03:25.729 Right. And then you've got the Chicago options, 00:03:26.150 --> 00:03:29.909 O 'Hare, ORD, and Midway, MDW. They're a bit 00:03:29.909 --> 00:03:31.729 further, like three, three and a half hours, 00:03:31.789 --> 00:03:33.810 but sometimes you find better deals flying into 00:03:33.810 --> 00:03:36.169 those bigger hubs. So manageable drives. Got 00:03:36.169 --> 00:03:40.030 it. Now the big one, hotels. I hear it gets crazy. 00:03:40.210 --> 00:03:43.969 Crazy is maybe an understatement. You've got 00:03:43.969 --> 00:03:47.990 over 55 ,000 people descending on Madison. Hotels 00:03:47.990 --> 00:03:50.909 near the Expo? They book up fast. So rule number 00:03:50.909 --> 00:03:54.050 one is book early. Absolutely. Like, really early. 00:03:54.189 --> 00:03:56.370 Don't wait on this one. It's almost like a competitive 00:03:56.370 --> 00:03:58.810 sport, finding a good room close by. Okay, give 00:03:58.810 --> 00:04:00.250 us a breakdown. Where should people look? Best 00:04:00.250 --> 00:04:02.969 convenience. Gold standard is the Clarion Suites. 00:04:02.969 --> 00:04:04.509 It's actually connected right to the exhibition 00:04:04.509 --> 00:04:06.689 hall. You can't beat that. Wow. But I bet that 00:04:06.689 --> 00:04:08.770 goes instantly. Oh, yeah. You gotta be on the 00:04:08.770 --> 00:04:11.229 ball for that one. Other really good options, 00:04:11.469 --> 00:04:14.530 basically walking distance, are the Home 2 Suites, 00:04:14.530 --> 00:04:17.689 the Sheraton, Holiday Inn Express. Still super 00:04:17.689 --> 00:04:20.569 close. What if you want something downtown? Maybe 00:04:20.569 --> 00:04:23.170 see a bit of Madison. Yeah. If you want that, 00:04:23.269 --> 00:04:25.529 look at places like the Madison Concourse, Hilton 00:04:25.529 --> 00:04:28.829 Madison, the Doubletree. Nice hotels, easy drive 00:04:28.829 --> 00:04:30.829 to the expo, plus you get the downtown restaurants 00:04:30.829 --> 00:04:33.470 and stuff. Makes sense. And for folks watching 00:04:33.470 --> 00:04:35.810 the budget, dairy margins being what they are. 00:04:35.949 --> 00:04:37.970 Right. There are definitely more budget -friendly 00:04:37.970 --> 00:04:40.449 spots just a mile or two out. Think Super 8, 00:04:40.670 --> 00:04:43.470 America's Best Value Inn, Baymont Inn. You save 00:04:43.470 --> 00:04:45.250 on the room, maybe put that towards something 00:04:45.250 --> 00:04:47.720 cool at the trade show. Good point. And what 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:50.339 about bringing cattle or a big crew? There's 00:04:50.339 --> 00:04:52.339 on -site camping at Willow Island. It's actually 00:04:52.339 --> 00:04:55.480 a really good economical option. They have hookups, 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:58.019 facilities. Great if you've got staff staying 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:00.279 or you're exhibiting cattle. Keeps everyone close. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:04.939 Okay. Logistics covered. Now, strategy. How do 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:08.500 you tackle the week itself? Because just wandering 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:12.139 around, probably not the best plan. No, definitely 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:15.180 not. You've got to think about it like... Managing 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:17.220 different lactation groups, right? Different 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:19.720 days have different focuses, different opportunities. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.100 I like that. So those early days, the pre -Expo 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:25.699 weekend, was the focus there? It's really about 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:28.459 the future, the next generation. Saturday, September 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:31.579 27th, you've got the Youth Fitting Contest, Youth 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:34.360 Showmanship. Great stuff to see if you're involved 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:38.199 with young people in dairy. And admission is 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:40.420 free those days. Free is good. What about Sunday? 00:05:40.810 --> 00:05:43.569 Sunday keeps that youth focus going. National 00:05:43.569 --> 00:05:45.910 Dory H. and Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging, 00:05:45.949 --> 00:05:48.509 plus the International Junior Holstein Show and 00:05:48.509 --> 00:05:51.009 the Guernsey Heifers. Lots of top young animals 00:05:51.009 --> 00:05:53.889 and skilled kids. And Monday, before the main 00:05:53.889 --> 00:05:56.529 event really starts. Monday sees more early breed 00:05:56.529 --> 00:05:59.490 shows, but also, critically, the Career Connections 00:05:59.490 --> 00:06:02.910 event. Ah, okay. So good for hiring. Or finding 00:06:02.910 --> 00:06:04.810 a job. Exactly. If you're looking for interns, 00:06:04.990 --> 00:06:07.110 new employees, or if you are that person looking 00:06:07.110 --> 00:06:09.600 for the next step in your dairy career. Monday 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.980 is a key day for that networking. Gotcha. Then 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:14.000 Tuesday, September 30th, it's officially on. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:17.259 Yep. Trade show doors swing open at 9 a .m., 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:20.779 run until 5 p .m. Massive. And in the show ring. 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:23.540 Tuesday's got Ayrshire Cows and Groups, Jersey 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:25.779 Cows and Groups, and the Brown Swiss Heifers. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.879 Plus, the educational stuff kicks off. Like what? 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.319 You've got knowledge nook sessions. Those are 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:34.399 quick focus talks. Virtual farm tours start. 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:37.699 An expo on Espanol, the Spanish language sessions. 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:40.839 And networking. End of the day. Oh, yeah. Tuesday 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:43.420 has the attendee appreciation event, usually 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:46.519 3 to 5 p .m., and then the famous happy hour 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:49.199 at the Tanbark, 4 to 6. Great places to connect. 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:51.800 And for Jersey folks, the top of the world Jersey 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:54.639 sale is Tuesday night. Okay, moving on to Wednesday, 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.480 October 1st. Trade shows humming along. In the 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:59.920 ring, it's milking shorthorn heifers, brown Swiss 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:02.259 cows and groups, and red and white heifers. And 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:04.379 educationally. The Dairy Forge seminars start 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:06.480 on Wednesday. Super important for anyone focused 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:08.740 on feed quality at cost. Right. Feed's always 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:11.040 a big one. Evening events. Wednesday night, you've 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:13.819 got the world premiere brown Swiss sale and also 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:16.120 the big recognition awards reception and banquet. 00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:18.459 Thursday, October 2nd. Sounds like a big day. 00:07:18.660 --> 00:07:22.259 Often is. Peak networking time for many. Trade 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:25.139 shows still buzzing. Breed shows. Milking short 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:27.620 horn cows in groups. Red and white cows in groups. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:29.839 And then a really big one, the International 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.540 Holstein Heifers. And networking gets serious? 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.779 Yeah, there's the International Reception, which 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:37.100 is a bit more exclusive, focused on global connections. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.839 And then Thursday evening, huge events. The World 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:44.939 Classic 25 Holstein sale and the crowning of 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:47.720 the Supreme Champion Heifer. Wow, okay. And then 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:51.569 Friday, the final day, October 3rd. Things wrap 00:07:51.569 --> 00:07:53.970 up a bit earlier. Trade show runs 9 a .m. to 00:07:53.970 --> 00:07:56.350 4 p .m. The main event in the Coliseum is the 00:07:56.350 --> 00:07:58.569 International Holstein Pows and Groups. And the 00:07:58.569 --> 00:08:00.970 grand finale. The parade of champions, all the 00:08:00.970 --> 00:08:03.509 breed winners, the supreme champs take a final 00:08:03.509 --> 00:08:05.529 lap. It's a pretty impressive sight to end the 00:08:05.529 --> 00:08:08.170 week. So lots happening each day. Any tips on 00:08:08.170 --> 00:08:11.230 how a farm team should approach this? Yeah, definitely 00:08:11.230 --> 00:08:13.589 think about dividing and conquering. Like maybe 00:08:13.589 --> 00:08:16.410 the person focused on finances hits the trade 00:08:16.410 --> 00:08:18.569 show hard Tuesday, Wednesday. While the herd 00:08:18.569 --> 00:08:20.730 manager focuses on genetics Thursday, Friday. 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:23.600 Exactly. Or someone focused on employee development 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.740 attends Career Connections on Monday. Match the 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:28.939 day's focus to your team members' responsibilities. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:32.580 It just makes sense. Right. Okay, let's dive 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:37.019 into that trade show. 650 companies. That's intimidating. 00:08:38.809 --> 00:08:41.690 It can be. You absolutely need a strategy. First 00:08:41.690 --> 00:08:44.049 step, before you even get there, hit the World 00:08:44.049 --> 00:08:46.809 Dairy Expo website. They have an interactive 00:08:46.809 --> 00:08:49.009 exhibitor directory. So you can search? Yeah, 00:08:49.070 --> 00:08:52.029 search by company name, product category, whatever 00:08:52.029 --> 00:08:53.470 solutions you're looking for. You should really 00:08:53.470 --> 00:08:56.830 make a list. Maybe like 15 or 20 must -see companies 00:08:56.830 --> 00:08:58.830 that solve your immediate problems. And then 00:08:58.830 --> 00:09:01.350 maybe a nice -to -see list. Exactly. Another 00:09:01.350 --> 00:09:04.409 10 or 15 to just explore, see what's new, what 00:09:04.409 --> 00:09:06.389 might be coming down the pipeline. Keeps you 00:09:06.389 --> 00:09:08.240 ahead of the curve. And speaking of new stuff, 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:10.679 innovation unveiled. Tell me about that. That's 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:13.259 a specific area dedicated to showcasing brand 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.759 new products and research. Things launched since 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:17.779 the last expo. It's like your first look at the 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:20.120 next big thing in dairy tech. Kind of like getting 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.440 early genomic data, seeing what's coming. Yeah, 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.480 good comparison. And often those innovations 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:26.299 get discussed in more detail in the knowledge 00:09:26.299 --> 00:09:29.159 note sessions, too. Smart. Should folks only 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:31.080 be looking at equipment, though? Oh, definitely 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.899 not. The trade show covers everything. Financial 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:38.220 services, sustainability advisors, labor and 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:41.019 workforce development companies, export groups. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.419 So think holistically about the farm business. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:45.879 Absolutely. It's not just about the milking parlor 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:48.139 anymore. It's the whole system. OK, so you're 00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:50.659 at a booth. You found someone interesting. What 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:53.779 kinds of questions should you ask beyond how 00:09:53.779 --> 00:09:56.220 much does it cost? Good question. Go deeper. 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:59.090 Ask things like. What's a realistic implementation 00:09:59.090 --> 00:10:01.809 timeline? Or can you connect me with another 00:10:01.809 --> 00:10:04.929 farmer using this? Or maybe, how does this specifically 00:10:04.929 --> 00:10:07.950 address my challenge with X, Y, or Z? Exactly. 00:10:07.950 --> 00:10:10.389 And a great one is, what do your most successful 00:10:10.389 --> 00:10:12.570 customers do differently? You learn a lot from 00:10:12.570 --> 00:10:14.889 that. Talk to the technical specialists, not 00:10:14.889 --> 00:10:17.350 just the sales reps. Get the real scoop. Smart. 00:10:17.429 --> 00:10:19.590 Okay, let's shift gears to the heart of the expo. 00:10:19.610 --> 00:10:23.570 For many, the cattle show. The Coliseum. Ugh, 00:10:23.710 --> 00:10:25.830 the colored shavings. Yeah, it's iconic. That's 00:10:25.830 --> 00:10:28.019 where breed history is often made. And they've 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:31.360 got that new two -breed rotation for 2025. Should 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.360 make watching smoother. Over 1 ,600 head of elite 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.659 cattle. It's impressive. We talked about the 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:41.240 daily schedule, but watching the show, it's more 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:43.360 than just pretty cows, right? Yeah. Especially 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:46.059 for commercial producers. Absolutely. The visual 00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:48.860 appraisal is one thing, but the real value often 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:51.320 lies in the data behind the animals and the conversations 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:54.129 around them. So where do you find that? Get into 00:10:54.129 --> 00:10:56.509 the New Holland pavilions, the cattle tent. Get 00:10:56.509 --> 00:10:59.570 up close. Use the WDE mobile app. It's essential 00:10:59.570 --> 00:11:02.029 for finding specific animals, locating exhibitors. 00:11:02.149 --> 00:11:05.110 And then talk to people. Yes. Talk to the exhibitors. 00:11:05.190 --> 00:11:07.190 Ask about the things that matter on a commercial 00:11:07.190 --> 00:11:09.669 dairy. Component percentages, feed efficiency 00:11:09.669 --> 00:11:14.250 data, daughter fertility, calving ease. Connect 00:11:14.250 --> 00:11:16.909 that show ring style to real world performance. 00:11:17.309 --> 00:11:19.370 Makes sense. Bridging that gap. And what about 00:11:19.370 --> 00:11:22.460 buying genetics? Big opportunity there too. You've 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:26.259 got three. Major elite sales. The top of the 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:29.519 world jersey sale on Tuesday. The world premier 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:32.620 brown Swiss sale on Wednesday. And the world 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:36.480 classic 25 Holstein sale on Thursday. So direct 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.600 access to some top tier genetics. Yeah, kind 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.080 of like getting early access to the highest genomic 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.820 young sires. It's a chance to acquire genetics 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:46.059 that can really move your herd forward. Okay, 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:48.360 Expo isn't just about cows and tech. It's also 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:51.320 about learning. Let's talk educational ROI. Right, 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:53.360 because you want knowledge you can actually take 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:56.559 home and use, WDE's educational program is really 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:58.639 geared towards that practical, implementable 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.759 stuff. You mentioned the Knowledge Nooks sessions. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:03.519 Tell me more. They're great. Quick 45 -minute 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.600 talks, usually held right in the exhibition hall 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.639 atrium. They focus specifically on recent innovations, 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.120 often tying back to those innovation unveiled 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:13.679 products. Easy to fit into your schedule. And 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:15.950 the virtual farm tours. Always popular, right? 00:12:16.049 --> 00:12:18.429 Hugely popular. They showcase really well -managed, 00:12:18.429 --> 00:12:20.870 interesting dairy operations each day. You get 00:12:20.870 --> 00:12:23.330 a video tour, then a live Q &A with the farm 00:12:23.330 --> 00:12:25.889 managers or owners. We're like getting real -world 00:12:25.889 --> 00:12:28.720 case studies. Exactly. You hear about their successes, 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:31.299 their challenges, how they adapted. It's like 00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:33.440 benchmarking your own place against some of the 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.940 best. What about feed? You mentioned forage seminars. 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:38.919 Yes, the dairy forage seminars. These happen 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:41.320 on their own stage, focused entirely on, you 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:43.740 know, improving forage quality, cutting down 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:46.120 shrink, boosting nutrient density. They often 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:49.820 share data showing actual cost savings. It's 00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:52.580 like fine tuning your TMR for better results. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.379 Crucial stuff. Anything else education wise? 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.379 Definitely need to mention Expo en Español again. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:01.320 Dedicated sessions in Spanish covering important 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:03.580 topics for Latino dairy professionals. It's a 00:13:03.580 --> 00:13:06.240 really valuable part of the program. So a tip 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:08.700 for navigating all this learning. Identify maybe 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:10.940 two or three specific challenges you're facing 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:13.940 back home before you go. Then use the WDE mobile 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:17.080 app seriously. Download the app to find and schedule 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:19.320 the sessions that directly tackle those issues. 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:22.179 Be strategic about your learning. Makes sense. 00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:25.179 All right. Networking is a huge part of WDE, 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:27.820 maybe sometimes overlooked. It shouldn't be. 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:30.700 The sheer concentration of people there, industry 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:33.399 leaders, researchers, top producers from all 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:36.600 over the world. It's unparalleled. So how do 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:39.799 you tap into that effectively beyond just collecting 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:42.980 business cards? WDE sets up specific opportunities. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:46.000 Those attendee appreciation events Tuesday through 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:49.350 Thursday afternoon are great. Relaxed, free refreshments, 00:13:49.370 --> 00:13:51.690 easy to strike up conversations. And the tan 00:13:51.690 --> 00:13:54.590 bark happy hour. Legendary. Same days, 4 to 6 00:13:54.590 --> 00:13:57.909 p .m. Always a diverse crowd. Very social. Good 00:13:57.909 --> 00:14:00.789 place to meet folks. Any others? For global connections, 00:14:01.070 --> 00:14:03.350 the international reception on Thursday is key, 00:14:03.669 --> 00:14:05.730 though it's geared towards international guests 00:14:05.730 --> 00:14:08.309 and commercial exhibitors. And don't forget career 00:14:08.309 --> 00:14:10.529 connections on Monday for talent scouting or 00:14:10.529 --> 00:14:12.610 job hunting. Okay, so you're at these events. 00:14:12.950 --> 00:14:15.529 How do you make the conversation count? Don't 00:14:15.529 --> 00:14:18.200 just do small talk. Think beforehand. Have a 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:20.340 couple of thoughtful questions ready about industry 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:22.720 trends, challenges you're seeing, maybe something 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:24.740 specific you learned in a seminar. And share 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:27.840 your own perspective, too. Yes. Offer your own 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.559 insights. Position yourself as someone knowledgeable, 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:32.879 someone worth connecting with. It's a two -way 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.240 street. And then the crucial step. Follow up. 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:38.980 Absolutely critical. Like consistent heat detection, 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:40.919 right? You've got to follow through. Make notes 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:42.919 on business cards right after you talk to someone. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.889 Then... Within a week or two, send a personalized 00:14:46.889 --> 00:14:49.870 follow -up email referencing your conversation. 00:14:50.129 --> 00:14:51.929 That's how you solidify the connection. Good 00:14:51.929 --> 00:14:54.330 advice. Let's talk about the world part of World 00:14:54.330 --> 00:14:56.950 Dairy Expo, the international aspect. Yeah, it's 00:14:56.950 --> 00:14:59.029 huge. Attendees come from nearly 100 different 00:14:59.029 --> 00:15:01.669 countries. It really gives the event a global 00:15:01.669 --> 00:15:04.899 feel. So for us domestic folks, what's the benefit 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:06.919 of that? It's a fantastic chance to get fresh 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:10.059 perspectives, hear how farmers in, say, Europe 00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:11.940 or South America are dealing with challenges 00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:15.220 similar to ours, maybe feed costs, labor, environmental 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:17.399 regs. You can pick up some really innovative 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:19.799 ideas. And for the international visitors coming 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:22.840 to Madison. WDE really rolls out the welcome 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:25.700 mat. They offer help with visa invitation letters. 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:28.580 Make sure to request those early. There's a dedicated 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:31.740 international registration desk, a special international 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:35.000 lounge for relaxing and networking. Do they offer 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.379 language help? Yep. Interpreters are usually 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:40.139 available for several languages, Chinese, French. 00:15:40.669 --> 00:15:43.350 German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, others. 00:15:43.690 --> 00:15:46.450 And they organize tours to local dairy farms, 00:15:46.549 --> 00:15:48.669 which is a great experience. Anything new international 00:15:48.669 --> 00:15:51.590 folks should know for 2025. There is an important 00:15:51.590 --> 00:15:53.809 note, especially for Canadians staying over 30 00:15:53.809 --> 00:15:56.590 days. There might be new U .S. registration requirements, 00:15:56.789 --> 00:15:59.389 like needing an I -94 form or doing an online 00:15:59.389 --> 00:16:02.210 registration. Best to check the official U .S. 00:16:02.250 --> 00:16:04.350 Customs and Border Protection website for the 00:16:04.350 --> 00:16:07.409 latest before traveling. Good heads up. And biosecurity 00:16:07.409 --> 00:16:09.309 always important with international travel and 00:16:09.309 --> 00:16:11.710 livestock. Extremely important. Anyone coming 00:16:11.710 --> 00:16:13.830 from abroad who has had contact with livestock 00:16:13.830 --> 00:16:16.789 needs to follow the APHIS guidelines strictly. 00:16:17.110 --> 00:16:20.250 Clean and disinfect footwear and clothing. Declare 00:16:20.250 --> 00:16:23.350 livestock contact. It's like basic on -farm disease 00:16:23.350 --> 00:16:26.409 prevention, but on an international scale. Protects 00:16:26.409 --> 00:16:29.210 everyone. Makes sense. Okay, you're in Madison 00:16:29.210 --> 00:16:31.279 for a week, maybe. Should people get off the 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.159 Expo grounds, see the city? Oh, absolutely. Madison's 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.139 a great city. Don't just stay holed up at the 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.980 Alliant Energy Center the whole time. What's 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.139 good to check out? Food scene. Yeah, Madison 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.960 has a really good food scene. Everything from 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:44.480 classic Wisconsin supper clubs, got to try one, 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:47.139 to really nice farm -to -table places. Grab the 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:49.100 Destination Madison visitor guide they usually 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:51.679 hand out at Expo. Lots of tips in there. What 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:55.039 about sites? The UW -Madison campus is beautiful 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:57.620 right on the lake. The state capitol building 00:16:57.620 --> 00:17:00.320 is impressive and usually offers tours. State 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:02.940 Street is the main pedestrian mall with shops 00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:05.279 and restaurants. And the city's right between 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.900 two lakes, Mendota and Monona, so it's pretty 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:10.539 scenic. Any quick side trips if people have an 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:13.259 extra day? Sure. You could pop down to New Glarus, 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:16.079 famous for its brewery and Swiss heritage, or 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:18.819 visit the National Historic Cheesemaking Center 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:21.500 in Monroe. Even Milwaukee isn't too far for a 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:24.420 day trip. Adds a bit of variety, like rotational 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:28.200 grazing for your brain. Nice one. Okay, let's 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:30.279 bring it all together. The bottom line for World 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:34.519 Dairy Expo 2025. The bottom line is it's a serious 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:36.819 investment of time and money, but the potential 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:40.079 return on that investment is massive if you plan 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:43.180 strategically. So recap those key actions for 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:46.380 maximizing ROI. Okay, number one, book early. 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:49.839 Hotels, tickets. Try to get that sorted by, say, 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:53.819 July 2025 at the latest. Number two. Plan strategically. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:57.160 Use the website. Use the mobile app. Map out 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:59.119 who you need to see, what you need to learn. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.680 Don't just wing it. Three. Divide and conquer. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.119 If you have a team, assign different people to 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:06.400 focus on different areas. Trade shows, specific 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:09.559 breed shows, education. Four. Set specific objectives. 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:12.000 What are the three to five concrete things you 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.680 want to walk away with? A new piece of tech identified. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:18.009 A solution to a forage problem. key genetic connections. 00:18:18.309 --> 00:18:21.250 And finally, number five. Follow through. Implement 00:18:21.250 --> 00:18:23.190 the ideas you learn. Nurture the connections 00:18:23.190 --> 00:18:25.589 you make. The value doesn't end when you leave 00:18:25.589 --> 00:18:27.970 Madison. It really is about gaining that competitive 00:18:27.970 --> 00:18:30.309 advantage, isn't it? Finding ways to improve 00:18:30.309 --> 00:18:33.509 components, efficiency, genetics, labor. WDE 00:18:33.509 --> 00:18:36.309 touches all of that. Absolutely. In today's dairy 00:18:36.309 --> 00:18:39.369 economy, you need every edge you can get. WDE 00:18:39.369 --> 00:18:41.230 is where you find a lot of them in one place. 00:18:41.470 --> 00:18:43.990 So the big question we asked earlier, will we 00:18:43.990 --> 00:18:46.069 see you on the colored shavings this fall? Hope 00:18:46.069 --> 00:18:48.509 so. Okay, just a super quick run -through of 00:18:48.509 --> 00:18:51.670 the absolute key takeaways again. Planned early 00:18:51.670 --> 00:18:55.309 July booking deadline is a good target. Prioritize 00:18:55.309 --> 00:18:58.130 your time, know which shows, tech areas like 00:18:58.130 --> 00:19:00.789 Innovation Unveiled, or educational tracks like 00:19:00.789 --> 00:19:03.579 Virtual Farm Tours matter most to you. Network 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:06.480 smarter. Use those specific events like attendee 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.920 appreciation, happy hour, career connections, 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:12.240 international reception. Use the tech tools that 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:14.980 WDE mobile app is your best friend. And prepare 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:17.660 for variables. Pack layers for Wisconsin weather. 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.720 Could be anything. And remember those biosecurity 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:23.029 points. Right. So to sum it all up. WDE 2025, 00:19:23.369 --> 00:19:25.670 September 30th to October 3rd, Madison. It's 00:19:25.670 --> 00:19:27.849 the Global Dairy Gathering. Huge trade show, 00:19:27.990 --> 00:19:30.170 elite cattle, practical education. Strategic 00:19:30.170 --> 00:19:32.349 planning is non -negotiable. Book early, use 00:19:32.349 --> 00:19:34.809 the app, have goals. Key things to check out. 00:19:34.930 --> 00:19:37.410 Innovation unveiled for new tech. Dairy Forge 00:19:37.410 --> 00:19:39.769 seminars for feed insights. Parade of champions 00:19:39.769 --> 00:19:42.809 for the grand finale. Plus, great support for 00:19:42.809 --> 00:19:45.630 international guests and tons of chances for 00:19:45.630 --> 00:19:48.809 ROI -driven networking. If you're serious about 00:19:48.809 --> 00:19:50.650 dairy, you... Kind of got to be there, right? 00:19:50.769 --> 00:19:52.970 Pretty much sums it up. It's a must attend. Well, 00:19:52.990 --> 00:19:55.309 thanks for diving deep into the World Dairy Expo 00:19:55.309 --> 00:19:58.650 2025 plan with us today. We really hope you start 00:19:58.650 --> 00:20:00.650 putting these steps into action now. Yeah, start 00:20:00.650 --> 00:20:03.369 thinking about it. What specific tech are you 00:20:03.369 --> 00:20:05.809 hunting for? Which bloodlines are you interested 00:20:05.809 --> 00:20:08.250 in? Who do you need to connect with? And for 00:20:08.250 --> 00:20:11.289 ongoing insights, more discussions about WDE 00:20:11.289 --> 00:20:12.990 and everything else happening in the dairy world, 00:20:13.150 --> 00:20:15.990 definitely check out the Bullvine website. That's 00:20:15.990 --> 00:20:20.109 www .thebullvine .com. Lots of good stuff there. 00:20:20.150 --> 00:20:21.670 We're already looking forward to Madison this 00:20:21.670 --> 00:20:23.490 fall. It should be an exciting week. So there 00:20:23.490 --> 00:20:26.730 you have it, your 2025 Expo game plan, sharper 00:20:26.730 --> 00:20:30.009 than a fresh hoof trim. Remember, book tickets 00:20:30.009 --> 00:20:32.750 and hotels early and save money and headaches. 00:20:33.569 --> 00:20:36.049 Willow Island camping beats downtown hotel rates 00:20:36.049 --> 00:20:38.150 and that Holstein heifer sale Thursday night? 00:20:38.470 --> 00:20:41.309 That's your genetic jackpot. Three key takeaways. 00:20:41.690 --> 00:20:45.230 Book lodging by July. Download the WDE app like 00:20:45.230 --> 00:20:47.970 it's your new herd management software. And pack 00:20:47.970 --> 00:20:50.539 layers. Madison weather's more unpredictable 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:54.000 than a fresh heifer in the parlor. If you found 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.480 this utterly essential, share it with your dairy 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:59.579 team and subscribe. For the full article with 00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:01.960 cattle show schedules and international visa 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:05.599 tips, hoof it over to thebullvine .com. Until 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:09.180 next time, keep chasing that 40 ,000 -pound dream.