The authors are the online media manager and an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman magazine.
Put yourself in the shoes of Katie Anderson for just a moment. The 20-year-old stepped off a plane in Chicago and caught a ride to the World Dairy Expo grounds for the very first time in 2017. Unlike many Americans who dream of making this trip to witness the meeting of the world’s dairy industry, Anderson traveled many more miles from her home in Yarroweyah, Australia, to finally check this goal off her bucket list.
Her Facebook post after returning home summarized her experience in the best way. “Well, I can say that I have completed my first trip to the USA,” she said. “World Dairy Expo was an absolute blast. I learned so much, met so many more people, and caught up with lots of friends. I saw cows that were like celebrities to me, and it was so overwhelming to witness champions being named.”
A global perspective
Anderson’s chance to make the trip to Expo came on the heels of winning a coveted Australian travel scholarship sponsored by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, which has been in existence for over 165 years.
The organization provides funding for several projects including the Dairy Youth Travel Scholarship that is awarded to an exhibitor at the Royal Melbourne Show in the fall.
Anderson applied for the award and wrote a 1,000-word essay about the future of dairy genetics in Australia. In her entry, she shared her belief that with the right people and good management, dairies could be profitable. In addition to the intensive application, Anderson completed an interview for the scholarship.
The winners of the scholarship can choose between visiting the U.S., Asia, or New Zealand with their travel funds to expand their global knowledge of the dairy industry. Once announced as the winner in 2016, Anderson put her $10,000 travel stipend toward attending World Dairy Expo in 2017 and started planning.
For Anderson, there was no question in her mind. She was choosing the U.S. “I’ve wanted to come here (to World Dairy Expo) since I was little. Winning the award was the push and opportunity I needed to make it happen,” shared Anderson.
She is very grateful to the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and to Jim Conroy, Semex Australia’s general manager, who serves as Dairy Committee Chairman of the society.
Coming to Madison gave her some insight into U.S. dairy production and a chance to see what industry leaders are using on their farms. “Hopefully some of these ideas I can take back to Australia to implement in our herd,” remarked Anderson.
While on the grounds, Anderson took full advantage of all Expo had to offer. Along with her 17-year-old sister Renee and her friend Micheala Thompson, 23, who was the 2017 recipient of the Australian travel stipend, Anderson watched the Jersey, Red and White, and Holstein shows. “I am overwhelmed by the cows that I have seen here,” she reflected. “I have heard about them and seen their photos, but to see them in the flesh is unreal! I love it!”
They also walked the trade show and caught up with friends in the barn, but Anderson and her sister didn’t stop there. They jumped on the opportunity to hit the colored shavings and show in the World Dairy Expo Showmanship Contest.
It all came about because Anderson recognized Mandi Bue, who was working the MilkSource string. Bue was at the 2016 Victorian Winter Fair in Australia, and she remembered meeting Anderson. After walking through the barns, the sisters returned to the MilkSource string to inquire about using two heifers for the youth showmanship contest. The whole MilkSource team graciously lent a hand.
Both Anderson girls are accomplished Australian showpersons, but they said America showmanship was a bigger challenge. Katie showed in the Senior Division, while Renee competed in the Intermediate Division. “The number of showmanship heats was crazy! So many youth were competing,” Anderson said. In fact, over 400 people competed, with 101 in the senior division.
“It’s a lot more competitive here. Youth know what they need to be doing and have to be physically strong to survive the lengthy contest. But, you can tell that those kids want to be doing it,” remembered Anderson.
The competition was tough, yet she placed an impressive sixth overall in her class.
“When we first approached the MilkSource string, we were intimidated with the large display and all the people, but now we feel like part of the family,” shared Katie after her showmanship experience.
An experience to take home
Anderson’s family farm, Sun Vale, is located about three hours north of Melbourne in the southeast corner of Australia. Their 400 cows and 300 heifers are all pastured, and the cows are supplemented with grain in the parlor. Their heifers get additional hay and grain as well.
The farm calves year-round so its 70 to 80 calves are the responsibility of Anderson and her sister. Anderson also takes the lead managing the showstring and exhibiting at three major shows in Australia — International Dairy Week in January, the Victorian Winter Fair in July, and the Royal Melbourne Show in September.
Simultaneously, Anderson is studying nursing. She plans to secure a job in the medical field but still be involved on the farm, as she wants to have full control of the calf-rearing program in the future.
That doesn’t mean Anderson has sated her desire to travel internationally, though. She said of her trip to Expo, “I am coming back every year from now on. And, I’m serious about that!”
