News Release

Friday, October 7, 2016

CONTACT: Lisa Behnke, Communications Manager, lbehnke@wdexpo.com
                   Jenna Langrehr, Communications Specialist, jlangrehr@wdexpo.com
PHONE:      608-224-6455

Pennsylvania Couple Wins Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award

MADISON, WIS. – Dale and Deanna Bendig of Gettysburg, Pa., were presented the 26th Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award during the 50th World Dairy Expo, in memory of Duncan MacKenzie, the 1961 Klussendorf winner.

For the first time since 2001, the Klussendorf and MacKenzie Association honored a pair of winners because this cow-loving team is simply inseparable. Dale grew up working with Guernseys on his family’s farm, while Deanna grew up working with Holsteins on her family’s dairy. In 1992, the couple married and established their 79-acre Spungold Dairy Farm with 65 milk cows and 65 replacement heifers near Gettysburg, Pa.

Since founding their farm, the couple has specialized in providing quality cattle care for some of the leading promoters of all breeds, including Ernie Kueffner, Greg Wilcom, Peter Vail, The Rucks Family, Morey Miller, and Mike Hellenbrand.

The Bendigs have bred and developed numerous Excellent cows, including Spungold Tahoe-Red – a homebred cow that was the 2002 Red & White Grand Champion at Expo and overall Futurity Winner that same year. In addition, they have been very successful in showing and promoting cattle for others. The most famous of which is Old Mill E Snickerdoodle who claimed six Grand Championship titles at World Dairy Expo during an eight-year span, a feat no other cow in World Dairy Expo history has been able to attain. On each of these six occasions one person – Deanna Bendig – was on the halter with Snickerdoodle, eventually leading her to Supreme Champion honors in 2003.

This couple is known in the barns for giving back to others. Dale actively serves on the World Dairy Expo Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee and has also won the World Dairy Expo’s A.C. “Whitie” Thomson Memorial Award in 2014. Both Dale and Deanna greet fellow exhibitors and showmen with a smile and a helping hand, especially junior exhibitors.

Recognized as the meeting place for the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo attracts more than 70,000 attendees from over 90 countries to Madison, Wis. each year. The annual event will take place October 4–8, 2016, with the theme of “Celebrate 50!” to commemorate its golden anniversary. Visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WDExpo or #Celebrate50) for more information. 

###