I’m still in World Dairy Expo mode and thought you might be interested in this program.
Grant Kohler is a dairy farmer from Utah where he milks 300 cows with a family operation. He was attending World Dairy Expo to talk about the Childhood Nutrition Fitness Initiative that’s a joint project of the National Dairy Council and the National Football League.
He says, “It brings a package not just to the cafeteria of the school but a package that can engage the principals and teachers.” The NFL teams are on board to provide their players as spokespersons when and where needed. He says the program includes a full nutritional plan that of course includes dairy. He’s proud to say that over 40,000 schools have already signed on. Here’s some excerpts from a recent release on the project.
To poise the multi-year program for success, the NDC will spend $100 million over five years to support this initiative, including school grants. The NDC will spend an additional $150 million on other efforts aimed at improving child health and wellness.
“We are taking a leadership role to help kids win the battle for good health,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Our players know the importance of staying healthy, and it’s important that we help young fans understand the value of exercise.”
You can listen to my interview with Grant as part of our Milking Parlor Podcast:
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To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, here are some instructions.
If you’re a media person needing some dairy information, especially photos, then Dairy Impact is where you need to go.
This is a website of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Here’s WMMB, Vice President, Producer Communications & Programs, Matt Joyce, showing it off to World Dairy Expo Dairy Woman of the Year, Marion Barlass at this year’s Expo.
Matt says you’ll find the largest collection of dairy related photos on the web when you visit.
You can listen to my interview with Matt as part here:
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She says they were there to remind dairy producers that they’re also beef producers. I got there just in time to sample some of their flat iron steaks they were serving. In fact, I’m making one for supper tonight!
After a morning of interviews and photos I’m hitting the road back to ZimmComm World Headquarters.
I’ll leave you with this one of a hard working farm broadcaster, the Farm Babe herself, Pam Jahnke, Wisconsin Farm Report. Once again Pam invited farm broadcasters to her home and made us feel welcome as her husband, Buck, grilled brats and burgers. We had a good time although I had to leave before the serious story telling got started.
I’ve got lots of good interviews which I’ll be using primarily on World Dairy Diary, so if you’re interested keep an eye over there for a lot more information.
Yes, I know, it’s AgriTalk again. No nice studio or even comfy table here at World Dairy Expo.
This time host, Mike Adams, just had a couple of chairs out in the hall outside the media room. However, he was able to pull off another good show with guests like Joe Bavido, Dairy Management, Inc.
So, there you go. AgriTalk, on-location in Madison, WI.
Basically, WMMB invites in a number of people who are available for interviews. I got several which will be featured in our Milking Parlor Podcast on World Dairy Diary later today. We used this opportunity for the photo since so many of these folks were working there already.
At last year’s World Dairy Expo we heard about the announcement of the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative. This morning they released the official principles and guidelines. The facilitator for the Initiative is Charlie Arnot. He described the process that got us to this point and says that now it’s time for the Initiative to move to the next step. He used a chart that he calls the “Continuous Improvement Cycle” to show each of them. Next in the cycle after today for example is “Apply Principles & Guidelines to on-farm well-being programs.”
The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative is a producer-led Coalition that includes members from every sector of the dairy industry. On October 2, 2008 at World Dairy Expo, the Coalition introduced the broad Principles and Guidelines — a uniform umbrella of assurance that the industry is meeting its ethical obligation for dairy animal well-being. Our goal is to protect consumer trust and confidence in the dairy industry by demonstrating dairy producers’ commitment to animal well-being.
Also on the program today was Pennsylvania dairy producer Logan Bower. He talked about how they’re already beginning to use the Initiative’s principles and guidelines in their state. Here’s an example of some talking points provided to producers by the Initiative.
Dairy Producer Talking Points
Developed by the National Dairy Checkoff
* As a dairy farmer, caring for my animals is my No. 1 priority so that I can provide the public with safe and wholesome dairy products. I work hard every day ensuring the comfort and safety of my animals and providing them a nutritious diet.
* Farmers in my community oppose/are outraged by the inhumane treatment of animals, whether on or off the farm. Farmers support government investigations into any allegations of animal abuse, including those that occur at meat processing facilities.
* Dairy farmers support government regulations that prohibit non-ambulatory, or “downer,” cattle from entering the food supply.
You can listen to the presentation with Charlie and Logan here:
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Where do farm broadcasters go in Madison, WI after the World Dairy Expo is over for the day?
Essen Haus. Where the boot is not allowed to touch the table. If you haven’t been to Essen Haus and don’t know what that means then you’ll have to ask one of these people.
All farm broadcasters are invited to the media room at 11:30 this morning for a photo that we can put in e-Chats.
The University of Wisconsin Madison Badger Club is a grilled cheese sandwich making machine at World Dairy Expo. I would like to try one again this year but the line is too long and never seems to go down.
With 139 members, Badger Dairy Club (BDC) creates opportunities for the membership to engage in activities and experiences within the college, community and the ever progressing dairy industry.
Purpose of the Badger Dairy Club
1. To provide opportunities for fellowship, friendship, service and to grow socially
2. To provide an opportunity to enhance the educational experience
3. To promote dairy cattle, products and the dairy industry
4. To learn of occupation opportunities
5. To make available the opportunity to make professional connections
The first two people I got to know at World Dairy Expo were John Rozum (sales) and Lisa Behnke (media). In fact, World Dairy Diary grew out of an idea that John had several years ago now.
I spoke to them this morning and the main message is “larger,” meaning more people and more exhibitors. Some of the numbers they mention include 717 exhibitors this year and 216 media representatives. Wow. Opening day attendance was up according to Lisa.
You can listen to my interview with John and Lisa as part of our Milking Parlor Podcast:
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I am now comfortably located in cool and brisk Madison, WI at World Dairy Expo. The media room is active and a number of us attended a breakfast time press conference given by WestfaliaSurge, now part of GEA Farm Technologies.
The CEO and President of GEA Farm Technologies is Vern Foster. He gave us a comprehensive presentation this morning (media and dealers) to explain the reasons behind the change and what that means for the company and its customers.
He says, “It’s to pull all of the organizations that are part of GEA Farm Technologies, Houle, Norbco, WestfaliaSurge, pull it under a common brand so it makes sense for the marketplace, makes sense for our investors, makes sense for our customers and our dealer distribution.” The GEA stands for Global Engineering Alliance, a 5.3 billion Euro company that operates in 50 countries. Vern says, “It helps us really re-focus under one umbrella as we continue to grow and create additional organizations and innovate into the field of agriculture.”
Since Houle, Norbco and WestfaliaSurge have separate sales forces he says they’ve been in discussion together to “offer a more total solutions package to a producer.”
He says you’ll start seeing the new GEA Farm Technologies brand at trade show and in their advertising. In fact, his business cards already show the new logo!
You can listen to Vern’s full presentation here:
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You can also download the full presentation using this link (mp3 file).
You can also listen to an interview I did with Vern afterward as part of our Milking Parlor Podcast:
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To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, here are some instructions.
It’s time to look forward to World Dairy Expo. This year’s theme is “Building Bridges - Making Connections.”
I’ll be on location again this year starting mid week posting mostly on World Dairy Diary. It looks like we’re in for a cool down in the midwest so I’m going to remember to bring a jacket. Nothing like getting to a farm show and wishing you had your boots, umbrella or coat.
The World Dairy Expo has elected some new leaders at their recent annual meeting as follows:
President: Mike Holschbach, Heatherstone Enterprises, Inc., Baraboo
Vice President: Phil Niemeyer, Nasco, Vice President, Fort Atkinson
Secretary/Treasurer: Dean Hermsdorf, Vita Plus Corporation, Cottage Grove
Also serving on the Executive Committee are:
John Dalton, Daltondale Farms, Hartland. Ray Kuehl, Purebred Breeders of World Dairy Expo, Waunakee; Roger Ripley Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo; Bill Barlass, Barlass Jerseys, Janesville; and Bob Kaiser, University of Wisconsin Extension, Juneau. World Dairy Expo General Manager, Mark Clarke and Will Hughes of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
Holschbach succeeds Roger Ripley as president of the board. Ripley, who is the President and CEO of Accelerated Genetics, has served on World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors since 1985. A member of the Executive Committee for 16 years, he served as board president for the past six years.
Wow. It’s nice to be home. You can call this a catch up day and a much needed one. I’m going through cheese withdrawal right now.
It’s always interesting (to me) to summarize our activity when blogging an event. So here’s some current totals for World Dairy Expo:
42 posts on World Dairy Diary, 10 on AgWired
24 episodes of The Milking Parlor podcast - These are interviews conducted while there. Those have collectively been downloaded 244 times.
7 YouTube videos - Those have collectively been viewed 527 times.
242 pictures on Flickr - Those have collectively been viewed 9,725 times. (I took 383 total)
Here’s some official summary information from the World Dairy Expo staff that I thought you’d be interested to know:
Total Attendance: 67,143 (Last year’s attendance was 65,563)
International Guests: * 2,862 from 89 countries (2006: 2,131 from 80 countries)
Top five countries of international attendance: Mexico (273); Canada (269); Germany (201); Argentina (184); Japan (146)
* does not include International Dairy Short Course attendees as of 10/06/07
Commercial Exhibitors: 707 companies from 24 countries
The 2007 World Dairy Expo is over and it ended with a great Parade of Champions. You can see pictures of all the action in my photo album. There’s 242 of them in there!
Here’s your Supreme Champion, Indian Acres Mm Pistachio Pie, Ashley Elise Sears, So. Deerfield, MA . Jersey was the Reserve Supreme Champion, Llolyn Jude Griffen-et, Peter Vail & Budjon Farms, Lomira, WI.
You can listen to the announcing of the Reserve and Supreme Champions of the 2007 World Dairy Expo here:
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It’s the final day of World Dairy Expo and things are getting more relaxed for the agriblogger. It’s also a lot quieter here in the media room. We’re down to the die-hards I guess.
During our media talk session Kathy LaScala wanted to talk about the International Forum for Women in Dairying. I asked her what this is all about. She says you can find out more on their website. The dates are September 28 & 29, 2008 at the Madison Concourse Hotel.
Kathy says the conference will feature many speakers and plenty of opportunities for women to network with each other since they face the same challenges regardless of what country they’re from.
You’ve got to love all the companies that are giving away iPods to producers so they can listen to our farm podcasts!
Take Schering-Plough which is giving away an iPod here at World Dairy Expo (Booth 3817). That’ll be one more dairy producer who can subscribe to our Milking Parlor podcast.
The idea of listening to content when you want and where you want and that you can’t get anywhere else is getting easier and easier to do and so more and more farmers are doing so.
I’m not the only farm podcaster here at World Dairy Expo.
You can find DairyCast on display in the main exhibit hall building. If you’re feeling all stressed out then you should stop by for a stress release cow.
Host Ned Arthur is wandering around recording sessions and interviews for current and upcoming episodes of the program. I’m sure the folks at Truffle Media Networks are still getting questions from agricultural marketers who wonder if “anyone is listening.” I know I am. Well, while they’re wondering we’re out and about creating the web-delivered content that is fueling the new media phenomenon in our industry. By the way, yes producers are listening. We’re out here talking to them and that’s what they’re saying.
How about some random photos from the ZimmComm archives?.
Happy New Year
Agricultural communications continues to change with new media options exploding (agriblogging, farm podcasting, social networking).
That's the theme of this last podcast of 2008. I review the major elements of online communications today and continue to encourage you and your company to join the conversation.
I’m still in World Dairy Expo mode and thought you might be interested in this program.
If you’re a media person needing some dairy information, especially photos, then 
The 
After a morning of interviews and photos I’m hitting the road back to ZimmComm World Headquarters.
Yes, I know, it’s AgriTalk again. No nice studio or even comfy table here at World Dairy Expo.
Members of the 
At last year’s World Dairy Expo we heard about the announcement of the 
Also on the program today was Pennsylvania dairy producer Logan Bower. He talked about how they’re already beginning to use the Initiative’s principles and guidelines in their state. Here’s an example of some talking points provided to producers by the Initiative.
Where do farm broadcasters go in Madison, WI after the World Dairy Expo is over for the day?
This is a World Dairy Expo edition of “Guess Whose Boot.” Not boots, but boot.
The 
The first two people I got to know at World Dairy Expo were John Rozum (sales) and Lisa Behnke (media). In fact, World Dairy Diary grew out of an idea that John had several years ago now.
I am now comfortably located in cool and brisk Madison, WI at World Dairy Expo. The media room is active and a number of us attended a breakfast time press conference given by WestfaliaSurge, now part of 
Since Houle, Norbco and WestfaliaSurge have separate sales forces he says they’ve been in discussion together to “offer a more total solutions package to a producer.” 
The 
Wow. It’s nice to be home. You can call this a catch up day and a much needed one. I’m going through cheese withdrawal right now.
The 2007 World Dairy Expo is over and it ended with a great Parade of Champions. You can see pictures of all the action in my photo album. There’s 242 of them in there!
It’s the final day of World Dairy Expo and things are getting more relaxed for the agriblogger. It’s also a lot quieter here in the media room. We’re down to the die-hards I guess. 
Kathy says the conference will feature many speakers and plenty of opportunities for women to network with each other since they face the same challenges regardless of what country they’re from.
You’ve got to love all the companies that are giving away iPods to producers so they can listen to our farm podcasts!
The 
I’m not the only farm podcaster here at World Dairy Expo.
Agricultural communications continues to change with new media options exploding (agriblogging, farm podcasting, social networking).
