It’s that time of year again – the geese are flying south for the winter, the corn has been harvested, SEC football teams are dominating, and it's time for World Dairy Expo (WDE).
Many will make the pilgrimage to Madison for the cutting-edge innovation, the incredible cow genetics or to see how many different companies they can buy silage inoculant from. Others less concerned about the downstream effects in the hind gut will be looking forward to the gastrointestinal offerings. I can appreciate the German/Bavarian influence on America’s Dairyland and can’t help but notice that WDE starts at the beginning of October, conveniently at the same time as Oktoberfest. The frivolity and revelries of WDE will blend in simultaneously with Oktoberfest, and there are people who might not get back on time.
Perusing the culinary offerings was an experience. Apparently there is something called beer cheese soup, which on the surface sounds somewhat unappetizing. Before you judge me, my non-culinary-trained mind pictures a bowl with a chunk of cheddar and warmed up Pabst Blue Ribbon all around it. The rest of the offerings look amazing – all the burgers, fries and bratwurst a person could want. The Dane County Pork Producers are also serving people, and this is a place where conventional rules just do not apply. They are offering a pork chop on a stick – which sounds delicious and I need to see. There is also a genuine pork burger there, and that is somewhat concerning with the beef market at record highs and hogs being free. We wish you well, Dane County pork people, but we’re also hopeful you don’t take over our burger market.
The University of Wisconsin will also be serving up grilled cheese sandwiches, and unlike their former alumnus Russell Wilson, they will run it to you and not pass it. 2015 Super Bowl reference: Our beloved Seattle Seahawks were on the one-yard line with 26 seconds left and one of the best running backs in the game in Marshawn Lynch. Wilson calls an audible and changes the run play to a pass play where he promptly throws an interception.
Make sure to cheer on my alma mater Modesto Junior College (MJC) as they look to excel in the dairy judging arena. MJC has a long history of doing well in dairy judging, and the year I went, they won in spite of me and not because of me. The ability to look at cows, judge them correctly and then using just your recall to explain your decisions is such a valuable life tool. These are the life skills that allow you the confidence to go up to a girl and get rejected, talk a police officer out of giving you a speeding ticket or justify to your wife that spending vacation money on a trip to WDE is a good idea.
It’s great to see events that represent our industry succeed and do well. It’s my hope that people and cows have safe travels to and from Madison. Also, if you could, have a pork chop on a stick for me and then go find a pig somewhere and look into its eyes and establish dominance.
