World Dairy Expo (WDE) along with the dairy industry will honor four exemplary dairy leaders this fall at the annual Dinner with the Stars Recognition Banquet held in conjunction with the global event in Madison, Wis.

“Nominated by their industry peers, these leaders were selected for their outstanding contributions to the industry”, shared Scott Bentley, WDE General Manager. “Expo is truly excited to recognize them and share their life stories and impact with the dairy community.”

The 2014 World Dairy Expo Recognition Award honorees are:
– Dairy Woman of the Year – Pam Bolin, Beaver Creek Farm, Clarksville, Iowa
– Dairyman of the Year – James S. Huffard III, Huffard Dairy Farms; Duchess Dairy, Crockett, Va.
– Industry Person of the Year – Dr. Curtis P. Van Tassell, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, Beltsville, Md.
– International Person of the Year – Lowell D. Lindsay, Retired, Semex Alliance, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

These four award recipients will be honored at a formal celebration, including a reception and banquet on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Tickets for this industry gala will be available at a later date.

World Dairy Expo is recognized as a catalyst for the dairy industry. More than 70,000 dairy producers and industry experts from 92 countries attended last year to experience the latest innovations and exchange ideas. The world-class event includes 2,500 head of North American dairy cattle competing on the famed “colored shavings,” more than 850 exhibiting companies participating in the renowned trade show, Expo Seminars, Virtual Farm Tours and exciting youth competitions. The 2014 World Dairy Expo theme is “Designer Dairy” and will be held September 30 through October 4 in Madison. Visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow us on Facebook.