When I was growing up, World Dairy Expo felt more like a family holiday than anything else. My dad has served as a ring man for the past 40 years in the International Brown Swiss show and for the past 38 years in the International Holstein show. I grew up showing animals on the colored shavings that I owned or leased. Having the world’s premier dairy event take place right in my backyard has made World Dairy Expo an event I look forward to every fall.
This year’s event, with the theme of “The Road to Madison,” felt even more special as I represented Wisconsin’s $52.8 billion dairy industry through my role as the 78th Alice in Dairyland. Held in the capitol of America’s Dairyland, World Dairy Expo brings together dairy producers, show cattle exhibitors, industry professionals, international guests, youth competitors, and more to showcase the traditions and advancements in the global dairy industry.
Now in its 59th year, World Dairy Expo continually boasts big numbers annually. With nearly 60,000 attendees, over 500 trade show exhibitors, more than 250 industry sponsors, over 3,000 youth exhibitors, and thousands of dairy cattle, “Expo” is more than an event — it is a celebration of agriculture’s future and a reaffirmation of Wisconsin’s leadership in the dairy industry.
As Alice, one of my favorite parts of World Dairy Expo was meeting with youth exhibitors who participated in events such as the Youth Fitting Contest, Youth Showmanship Contest, the Dairy Cattle Judging Contests, and FFA events. These were aspects I enjoyed as a 4-H and FFA member, and witnessing the joy and excitement that youth across the country (and world!) have for their animals and the dairy industry was truly heartwarming. As a competitor in the collegiate level dairy cattle judging contest just last year, it was especially inspiring to see the 2025 champion teams claim their top spots and shine on the biggest stage in the world for competitive dairy cattle judging.
Throughout the Alliant Energy Center and across the Expo grounds, technology and innovation were on full display. Attendees could partake in Knowledge Nook Sessions, embark on virtual farm tours, and listen to Tanbark Talks. The topics covered in these educational demonstrations included “Dairy’s Latest Innovation: Digitizing & Automating Feed Pushing,” “Harnessing the Power of Connected Data to Drive Your Dairy’s Performance,” and “Beyond the Barn: How U.S. Dairy Genetics Leads the World.” Expo en Español allowed for greater accessibility of information to the international guests who attend World Dairy Expo every year. It was incredibly special to celebrate Wisconsin’s dairy industry and interact with visitors from countries like Argentina, Australia, Germany, Kenya, Japan, Italy and South Africa.
Perhaps most memorable was the opportunity to deliver the coveted results of the dairy cattle show during the Parade of Champions on Friday afternoon. This moment was one I have witnessed countless former Alices complete, so to represent all of Wisconsin agriculture through this tradition was a dream come true! The 2025 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion was Golden-Oaks Temptress-RED-ET, and she joins a long list of elite dairy cows who have graced the colored shavings as a champion. Congratulations to all of the exhibitors at this year’s World Dairy Expo!
Thank you to the World Dairy Expo staff, volunteers, media professionals, and other event personnel who continue Expo’s vision of keeping the “global dairy community united and thriving.” You can plan ahead for World Dairy Expo next year (happening September 29-October 2, 2026) and in upcoming years by visiting worlddairyexpo.com.
— Sarah Hagenow is the 78th Alice in Dairyland, Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador who works with media professionals to educate consumers about the importance of agriculture to Wisconsin’s economy and way of life. She can be reached at sarah.hagenow@wisconsin.gov.
