More visitors, exhibitors and cows attended this year’s World Dairy Expo than in recent years. Total show attendance was up 1.7 percent over 2007, as 68,317 entered the show grounds between September 30 through October 4. However, total international visitor attendance and the number of countries represented were down this year. More than 2,800 visitors from 84 countries attended.

Attendance by visitors from Canada was up nearly 80 percent this year, as the show saw Canadian cattle return to Expo competition. This year’s supreme champion was Canadian-bred. (See photo below.) PD

ABOVE: More than 100 women gathered to attend the Third International Forum for Women in Dairying. Half of the attendees toured Sunshine Genetics (at left) while the other half toured a local ethanol plant during the conference’s opening day. Photo by Walt Cooley.

ABOVE: Thrulane James Rose, an Excellent 97-point Holstein cow from Quebec, Canada, was named World Dairy Expo’s Supreme Champion. Exhibited by Pierre Boulet of Montmagny, she was bred by Thrulane Holsteins of Elmira, Ontario. Reserve Supreme Champion of the show was Old Mill E Snickerdoodle OCS, bred and exhibited by Allen Bassler, Jr., of Upperville, Virginia. Courtesy photo by World Dairy Expo.

ABOVE: More than 200 producers stopped by Progressive Dairyman’s booth to say why they were proud to dairy, including this contingency from Puerto Rico. Photo by PD staff.