The excitement is building as hundreds of dairy cattle exhibitors from across North America prepare to bring more than 2,500 head of elite show cattle to the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin the week of Oct. 4-8. A change in the slate of judges has been announced for the International Junior Holstein Show. Unfortunately, Norm Nabholz is unable to serve as official for that show as previously announced. He has experienced a chronic knee issue that will prevent him from judging. Larry Tande has generously agreed to step in to serve as official judge for that show. Tande is no stranger to judging dairy cattle shows of this caliber. Tande has judged hundreds of dairy cattle shows including the U.S., Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Spain. Tande served as official judge for the Central National Brown Swiss Show at World Dairy Expo in 2006 and Central National Milking Shorthorn Show in 2002. He is scheduled to judge the Peru National Holstein Show later this fall.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (U.S. Commercial Service) Suresh Kumar presented the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate to Schaefer Ventilation Equipment of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. The award recognizes businesses that have benefited from Commercial Service export assistance to make its first export sale or expand to new foreign markets. “Schaefer Ventilation is a prime example of how innovative Minnesota businesses are tapping global markets to increase their sales which support jobs and economic growth here at home,” Kumar said. “Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers are beyond U.S. borders, and we must continue to give small -and medium-sized U.S. businesses a competitive edge by making the necessary investments that will lead America into the future. I commend Schaefer Ventilation on its outstanding export accomplishments.”