Hundreds of volunteers gathered December 8 at the Alliant Energy Center to celebrate the recent 2014 World Dairy Expo (WDE). Attendees enjoyed a reception and banquet provided in appreciation of their hard work and dedication to WDE. Each year over 500 volunteers aid in the planning and implementation of the world’s largest dairy event.

Four individuals were recognized for their outstanding service to World Dairy Expo. Alan Deming, Sandy Horn, Doug Williams and Token Creek Mobile Television, Inc. each received a certificate recognizing their dedication to Expo.

Alan Deming, East Central/Select Sires CEO, has provided leadership and knowledge on many levels to World Dairy Expo. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1991, currently serving on the Executive Committee as Secretary/Treasurer and as Finance Committee Chairman. He was a key person that provided guidance during the recent New Holland Pavilion building project and was the first to volunteer to be a steward for the new cattle facilities. Alan and his wife Betty live in Waupun, Wis.

Sandy Horn has been a key resource to the WDE Dairy Cattle Show for many years. A full-time dairy producer, Horn was previously on the Expo staff for 19 years and has a deep understanding of the cattle show and exhibitors. Since her retirement, she has continued to volunteer by providing data processing of entries and preparation of updated reports for the eight superintendents. In addition, Horn contributed to the development and testing of the online entry system in 2012. Sandy Horn and her husband Dick live near Brooklyn, Wis.

Doug Williams, Kuhn North America Field Support, Shows & Training Manager, has been influencing World Dairy Expo for more than 20 years. A long-time member of the Commercial Exhibitors Committee, Williams has shared his global experience to develop WDE’s Trade Show into a world-class event. Williams has provided guidance through growth in exhibitor numbers and transitions in the Trade Show floor, and has been an integral part of ingress and egress planning with consideration to both commercial and dairy cattle exhibitors. Williams and his wife, Terri, reside in Evansville, Wis.

Token Creek Mobile Television, Inc., based in Waunakee, Wis. has been an Expo partner for seven years. They are instrumental in producing the popular live stream of the Showring, ExpoTV that is viewed around the world. Token Creek Mobile Television Inc. President, John Salzwedel, and his staff are responsible for filming and editing ExpoTV that has reached 394,070 viewers during their tenure. Their edited highlight videos have been viewed 631,106 times on Expo’s YouTube channel. Token Creek Mobile Television, Inc. provides on-site support for the numerous screens, big and small, broadcasting the live dairy cattle show. Token Creek’s professional services helped Expo reach a greater worldwide audience.

Members of the WDE Building Committee were given a plaque in recognition of their leadership and guidance throughout the New Holland Pavilions at the Alliant Energy Center planning and building process. Members of the Committee include Ernie Kueffner, Chair; Mike Hellenbrand, Co-Chair; George Crave; Bob Kaiser; Jim Crowley, Jr., Ken Empey; Bob Hagenow and Tom Morris.

Special recognition was presented to Jim Crowley, Jr., for his long-standing service to the WDE Dairy Cattle Show. He served as a general volunteer during the early years of WDE in a variety of roles. Later, from 1980 until 2012, Crowley was the Brown Swiss Superintendent. Most recently, he led the breed superintendents as overall Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent.