The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

World Dairy Expo® is searching for the best young fitters and showmen in the world to compete in the WDE Youth Fitting and Youth Showmanship Contests. All young dairy enthusiasts are welcome, as these competitions are open to anyone who meets the age requirements. Participants are not required to exhibit in one of the WDE breed shows to qualify; however, to be eligible, contestants must use an animal that will be shown or sold at Expo in 2017.

Kicking off the week’s youth activities is the Youth Fitting Contest on Sunday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. in the Estrumate Sale Pavilion. Participants will be divided into four divisions – ages 13 to 16 and 17 to 21, in both male and female groups. Judging the eighth annual Youth Fitting Contest is Trenton Styczynski, the winner of the inaugural contest in 2010 and professional dairy cattle fitter and consultant.

On Thursday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. – or following the day’s breed shows – the top young showmen take to the colored shavings to compete in the Youth Showmanship Contest. The junior division, ages 9 to 13, will be judged by Laura Phoenix, Marketing Assistant at KFB Financial Services and co-owner of Far-Row Holsteins, Woodville, Ontario, Canada. Judging the intermediate division, ages 14 to 17, is Norm McNaughton, owner of Comrie Farms in London, Ontario, Canada. Rounding out the group, and evaluating the senior showmen, ages 18 to 21, is David Crack, Dairy Solutions Director at CIAQ and owner of Crackholm Holsteins, Richmond, Quebec, Canada.

Youth may view the complete list of contest rules and enter for both competitions online at worlddairyexpo.com, or by mailing in the entry form found online and in the Premium Book. Entries close the day prior to each contest at 5:00 p.m.

Awards for these World Dairy Expo Youth Contests are sponsored by: Aesculap AG Germany, Andis Company, Budjon Farms, Double S Liquid Feed Services, Inc., E-Zee Milking Equipment, LLC, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, Kelly Reynolds, the Klossner Family, LOWE Equipment Attachments, Masters Choice Hybrids, MIOX Corporation, MVE Chart, Paule View Transport, LLC, Y-Tex Corporation and Wahl Clipper & Lister Shearing.

For over five decades, the global dairy industry has been meeting in Madison, Wis. for World Dairy Expo. Crowds of nearly 75,000 people from more than 100 countries attended the annual event in 2016. WDE will return Oct. 3-7, 2017 as attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to “Discover New Dairy Worlds.” Visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WDExpo or #WDE2017) for more information.