The author farms with her husband, Kevin, and his parents in Lakeville, Ohio.

Expo is nothing without its volunteers, and since 1981, the Friend of Expo recognition has acknowledged those individuals and industry partners that have made it all possible.

Long after the last cow has left the grounds and exhibit areas are back in order, the volunteers, board members, and the staff of World Dairy Expo gather to celebrate another successful show at the annual Friends of Expo banquet in December. During this banquet, individuals are recognized with the Friend of Expo honor.

This award acknowledges the dedication of the many volunteers who pull out all the stops to make Expo the premier dairy cattle show and dairy trade show that it is. With the guidance of the staff of World Dairy Expo, over 500 volunteers bring to life a year’s worth of planning.

Volunteers are critical to the success of the show. Dawn Dommisse, World Dairy Expo administrative services manager, states that volunteers work in a variety of capacities: tram drivers and greeters, school tour guides, operators of the Purple Cow Gift Shop, helpers for the dairy cattle show and administration office, and assistants for trade show exhibitor and dairy cattle exhibitor arrival and departure to name just a few.

“Because of the seasonality of Expo, a full-time staff of over 500 people would be needed to accomplish what volunteers achieve in the weeks before, during, and after Expo and that would make the show financially unobtainable,” said longtime World Dairy Expo board member Robert Walton.

Volunteers have been recognized since the beginning of Expo with an annual appreciation dinner that was held in the winter. At that time, there were typically 100 to 150 volunteers who came together to celebrate.

“In the early 1980s, board members decided that it was time to recognize the volunteers who were at the forefront of making the show successful,” said Dave Selner. Selner served as an Expo volunteer for 40 years, including 15 years on the board of directors, and was recognized in 1995 as a World Dairy Expo Friend of Expo for organizing the Collegiate Dairy Judging Contest and his work announcing dairy cattle shows.

The first Friend of Expo award was presented in 1981 to James Crowley Sr. during the Holstein Show. Doc Crowley, as many knew him, was critical to the success of Expo when the show’s future was still uncertain.

In 1982, a program during the annual banquet was added to recognize the Friend of Expo honorees. Since then, 128 Friends of Expo have been honored.

As Selner explained, “Originally, the award was given to two or three honorees. The Industry Friend of Expo was then included and given to organizations committed to the success of Expo. The President’s Award started in 1989 to recognize World Dairy Expo board members who made vital contributions.

“Today, four to five volunteers are acknowledged with the award each year. With the growth of the show, there are so many more aspects that rely on volunteers,” Selner continued.

These are the volunteers who dedicate a day, a week or more, to Expo, year after year. These are the greats who have made Expo what it is today. As the award states, it is given for the sincere appreciation for the years of distinguished service, outstanding commitment, and valued dedication to the success of World Dairy Expo.