Welcome back to the Bullvine Daily Expo Recap,
where we bring you all the action from Madison.
Holy smokes, what a day we just witnessed at
World Dairy Expo. It's past midnight here on
Sunday, technically Monday morning now, and we
just wrapped day one of the greatest dairy show
on earth. From sunrise fitting contests to an
11 p .m. Holstein marathon, this opening day
delivered drama, tears, and some championship
selections that are going to have people talking
all week. Let's dive into everything that went
down on the colored shavings today. The day started
early, 9 a .m. in the Sale Pavilion, with 52
young fitters from 10 states and 3 Canadian provinces
battling it out in the youth fitting contest.
Wesley Brantner from Oxford, Pennsylvania, dominated
the senior male division and took home the overall
fitter title. Will San James Dean Torrey E .T.,
a winter yearling owned by Cindy Bates and Lori
Dietz from Ohio, claimed junior champion honors.
The Guernsey Cow Show resumes Monday afternoon
at 2 .30. The day wasn't just about showing.
The sale season kicked off too. The World Ayrshire
Event Sale ran at 7 p .m. in the Sale Pavilion,
with buyers from across North America bidding
on top genetics. Sales continue all week, culminating
with the World Classic Holstein Sale on Thursday
night. If you're looking for genetics, this is
your candy store. So what's the takeaway from
day one? Three things stand out. First, the youth
programs at World Dairy Expo are absolutely thriving.
Between fitting, showmanship, and judging contests,
we had over 500 young people competing today.
That's not just participation. That's the future
of this industry showing up in force. Second,
Pierre Boulet's decision to crown mature cows
over promising youngsters sends a message. In
an industry obsessed with genomics and young
cattle, he's saying longevity still matters.
That five -calf champion proves cows that last
are still the gold standard. Third, the logistics
worked. Running cow classes before heifers in
the Junior Holstein Show? Smart. Having youth
contests flow seamlessly into breed shows? Brilliant.
This is how you run a world -class event. Tomorrow,
well, later today technically, we've got a packed
schedule. 7 a .m., Jersey heifers kick off the
day. 12 .30 p .m., Ayrshire heifers take the
ring. 2 .30 p .m., Guernsey cows resume. 6 p
.m., top -of -the -world Jersey sale. The intensity
only ramps up from here. Tuesday brings Brown
Swiss, Wednesday has Milking Shorthorn and Red
and White, Thursday features the International
Holstein Heifer Show, and Friday, Friday we crown
the Supreme Champion. Look, I've covered a lot
of day ones at World Dairy Expo, but this one
felt different. Maybe it was the record youth
participation. Maybe it was seeing a five -calf
cow beat the youngsters. Maybe it was just the
energy in the barns. But here's what I know.
When you get 500 -plus young people competing
before noon, when a judge has the guts to reward
longevity over potential, when sisters from Wisconsin
can take a $40 ,000 investment and turn it into
a grand champion, that's not just a show. That's
the heartbeat of an industry that's very much
alive and kicking. Tomorrow, we're back with
Jersey and Ayrshire action, plus the continuation
of the Guernsey show. But tonight... Tonight
belongs to the youth who started their Expo journey
and to that five -calf champion who reminded
us all what really matters in this business.
This is the Bullvine Daily Expo Recap, reporting
from a very late Sunday night or very early Monday
morning at World Dairy Expo in Madison. Remember,
folks, in dairy, it's not about how you start,
it's about how long you last. See you tomorrow
for day two.