FFA Activities

World Dairy Expo welcomes FFA members from across the country as it proudly provides educational opportunities in conjunction with the Central National FFA Contests. 


Turn World Dairy Expo Blue & Gold - Tuesday, October 1

 

New for 2024, FFA members should represent their chapters in official dress while at World Dairy Expo! This is a chance to turn WDE blue and gold with thousands of FFA members onsite.  *Not required to enter grounds


WDE Advisor Guide

First time bringing students to World Dairy Expo? Check out the WDE Advisor Guide, designed the Wisconsin Association of FFA, specifically for advisors to help you and your students get the most out of your trip. 


Central National FFA Contests

The Central National FFA Contests (Dairy Cattle Judging, Dairy Products Judging, Showmanship and World Forage Management Cup) are held Tuesday, October 1. Teams must register online by September 6. Late entries are only accepted September 6 - 12. Payment for late entries must be submitted by September 12 to be eligible to participate. Registration information can be found here


Admission Tickets 

Thanks to FutureCow, FFA Chapters can order reduced rate admission tickets until Monday, September 30.

All admission ticket orders must be submitted via the new online ticket purchasing platformA link to purchase, and a discount code for reduced rate admission tickets is included in your FFA Contest registration confirmation email and/or has been shared via our latest FFA newsletter. If you do not recieve the newsletter, please contact Cassi Miller to recieve the latest edition.

Bus travel and parking map


FFA Seminars

NEW LOCATION Trade Center, Dairy Forage Seminar Stage

Tuesday, October 1, 9:30 a.m.
Sponsored by: 
Alliant Energy Corporation

Agricultural Careers Panel
Panelists: Katelyn Allen, Hoard’s Dairyman; Alex Decker, BouMatic; Lauren Hendel, Select Sires, Inc.

Moderator: Katrina Hoesly, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Tuesday, October 1, 10:30 a.m.
Sponsored by: 
Alliant Energy Corporation

Turning it Up in FFA
Presenters: Wisconsin State FFA Officer Team Members

Tuesday, October 1, 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Sponsored by: 
NEWCollege for Rural Wisconsin Program
Sessions: College Trivia Game, Rural College Student Panel & Mock Admission Application Review

Tuesday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Agricultural Careers Panel 
Panelists: Katelyn Allen, Hoard's Dairyman; Alex Decker, BouMatic; Lauren Hendel, Select Sires, Inc.
Moderator: Katrina Hoesly, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
Sponsored by:

Did you know that in Wisconsin, 1 in 9 jobs are related to agriculture? This highlights the immense opportunities available within this robust industry that contributes $104.8 billion to our state's economy. Today, we aim to inspire and equip the next generation of agriculturalists with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in various ag-related careers. Whether you're interested in farming, technology, science, marketing, or beyond, there's a place for you in the agriculture sector. Let's dive in and discover the exciting possibilities that await!

Meet the Moderator and Panelists:

Katrina Hoesly
Sustainability Marketing Specialist
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
Katelyn Allen
Associate Editor
Hoard's Dairyman

Alex Decker

Engineering/Technical Manager Rotaries

BouMatic

Lauren Hendel

Communications Specialist

Select Sires, Inc.


Tuesday, October 1 at 10:30 a.m.
Turning it Up in FFA 
Presenters: Wisconsin State FFA Officer Team Members
Sponsored by:

Join members of the Wisconsin State FFA Officer Team at this workshop where they will learn how you can put our best foot forward in FFA. From getting involved to sharpening our image, FFA can help us grow as leaders. We can’t wait to see how you will “Turn it Up" in this workshop! 


Tuesday, October 1 at 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
College for Rural Wisconsin Program
Sponsored by: 

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
What Do You Know? College Trivia Game
Win prizes while you learn about college-going!

12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
College Is for Students Like You: Rural College Student Panel
Not sure about going to college? Have questions about what it’s like as a rural and small-town student? Hear from WI State FFA Officers and Rural Peer Advisors about the college-going experience. Lunch will be provided – first come, first served!

12:30 – 1:15 p.m.
Learn What it Takes to Help Your Students Succeed: Mock Admissions Application Review
Step in the shoes of a college admissions counselor and review example student applications. Get tips on putting together a great college application. Students are welcome to join us for this session too. Lunch will be provided – first come, first served!


Around the Grounds

FFA Advisor Appreciation
Tuesday, October 1, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Sponsored by: 
Culver's

The future of agriculture looks bright because of outstanding educators! Thanks to the generous support of Culver's, coffee and donuts will be available for educators and advisors as they enter the World Dairy Expo grounds. The station will be located at the east/west corridor entrance to the Exhibition Hall near the bus drop-off and pick-up.

*The event is for FFA Advisors and Ag Educators only


World Dairy Expo Passport
Sponsored by: 
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

NEW! Created with Ag Teachers in mind. No need to print your own assignments, or worry about what to give your students. Use the registration link below to reserve a passport for all of your students, and they will be ready for you when you arrive on-grounds!

Activity Details:

    • Tuesday, October 1 Only
    • Passport pick-up at the bus drop-off location (near the Exhibition Hall)
    • 17 locations which include colleges and industry partners in the trade show
    • Visit all locations and spin the prize wheel
    • Sign-up by September 23 to secure your passports! https://forms.gle/WKL8xh65dpdEv5Jd7


Trade Show Booth Activities

FFA T-Shirts - College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS)
Graduates from CALS at UW-Madison work with dairy cattle, become veterinarians, manage herds and farms, develop skills in animal nutrition, breeding, and more!

CALS students also study crops, soil health, design machines for production agriculture and construction, work with animals (who live on campus), and are taught by some of the faculty in the world! The UW Cheese Stand is run by CALS students who are members of Badger Dairy Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau!

Learn about real-world skills you can bring back to your community and family business by visiting our booth!

FutureCow Drawing FFA
FutureCow will award 10 lucky winners $75 in gift cards for the "Shop FFA" online store. Stop by the FutureCow booth EH 3007-3109B to enter for your chance to win!

John Deere
Visit the John Deere booth (TM M, N, OO) to:

    • Explore John Deere’s new products and technologies through a scavenger hunt 
      • Participate in the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a fun prize 
    • Ask questions about John Deere products and technologies with experts in the booth 
    • Learn about John Deere and dealership careers, specifically tech recruiting

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s Mobile Ag Trailer
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College’s Mobile Ag Trailer provides hands-on opportunity to learn more about agriculture career training offered at our college. Stop by to engage with faculty, recruiters and students and practice skills needed in today’s animal, agronomy, business and ag mechanics industries. Try flying our drone simulator, practice IV injections on our beef cow, discuss the birthing process with our full-size cow model, identify parts of an engine, or check out other “hands on” opportunities. Southwest Tech has a 98% graduate student satisfaction rating with over 60 programs of training. The trailer will only be on-grounds Tuesday, October 1 on Fairgrounds Drive.

VAS Dairy Trivia Plinko
Test your dairy knowledge and drop a puck down the Plinko board for your chance to win VAS swag, World Dairy Expo goodies and more. Visit the VAS team in the Exhibition Hall at booth EH 4331 and 4332 to play!

Are you Smarted than a Freshman Level Exam?
Stop by the UW-River Falls booth on the main concourse of the Coliseum (MC 27tt). Spin the wheel to test your knowledge and win a prize! Find out if you already know the answer to a quiz question from the freshmen Animal Science course!

Take a Quiz, Win Ice Cream
The U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center is sponsoring a quiz about the dairy industry and forages in the Trade Center by the World Forage Analysis Superbowl. Students can complete the five-question quiz from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a chance to win free ice cream from the GEA Ice Cream Stand. Supplies are limited. While there, students will also have the opportunity to touch and smell award winning forage samples and ask questions of the experts.

Dane County Rainfall Simulator
Dane County Land and Water Resource’s Rainfall Simulator provides a field level demonstration on how different farmland practices can effect water infiltration and soil erosion. Samples are harvested from real farm fields around the county with minimal disturbance to be able to model how an actual rainfall event can effect how water interacts with soil on the broader landscape. This demonstration will compare convention tillage, reduced/no-till systems, cover crops, and managed pasture. Demos will run at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Northcentral Technical College’s Mobile Technician Education Center
Northcentral Technical College’s Mobile Technician Education Center (MTEC Truck) offers interactive simulators to engage students in learning more about their potential future careers. Come and talk to us to get information about our Diesel, CDL, Utilities, Vet Tech, Agronomy, Dairy, and Garden to Market programs! Test your agricultural knowledge with our “Spin the Wheel” game, identify parts of an engine, race to put together a 3D cow puzzle, or check out our other simulators. NTC is the only college within the Wisconsin Technical College System to have a fully functioning dairy farm to provide first hand experiences to our students.