![]() ![]() ![]() “It wasn’t going to survive, and that’s when we came up with this idea. “It struggled through not being successful as a Food Expo and was about to go bankrupt,” said Walton. Though the show was turning a corner attendee-wise, they still found themselves in financial trouble. “It was later on, as we were approaching the 1970s, when the cattlemen and the industry kind of got more involved.”Įvents such as the National Intercollegiate and National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contests, and a shorter five-day show, provided a more farmer-friendly atmosphere. Robert Walton, past World Dairy Expo Board of Directors member. “There really weren’t many dairy farmers involved with the show in the beginning,” said Dr. The show eventually found its footing, focusing less on attracting urban attendees and more on drawing interest for dairy industry members. The goal was to attract attention off the street and to give exhibitors something to do at night. One of the early failures, Gilbert recalls, were the big bands hired to provide nightly entertainment. “Getting some interest, getting some money, getting anything.” “We had so much trouble getting traction,” said Joe Gilbert, a longtime Expo volunteer recruited by then executive director, Bev Craig. Even so, those first few years struggled to attract attendees to the Expo grounds. The World Food Expo, as it was called then, had something for everyone – banquets, a tractor pull, World Food Forums, Cinderella of the Dairy World and more. The vision of founders Allen Hetts, Gene Nelson, Howard Voegeli and Norm Magnussen was coming to life. That very first show in 1967 was to be a grand exhibition – 10 days of cattle, food and events. It’s hard to imagine for those of the generation where World Dairy Expo is a staple, but for those who witnessed the beginnings, it has been a long road to success. Struggles with finances and finding the right focus had the fledgling show on a tipping point between success and failure. But 50 years ago, the success of the show was less certain. The World Dairy Expo of today is undoubtedly a success – a landmark that all involved in the dairy industry hope to be a part of each year. Today, World Dairy Expo is known around the globe as the place where the dairy industry meets. Robert Walton reflects on how much the show has changed and grown from its humble beginnings in 1967. (Photo Credit: Nina Linton Photography)Īttending nearly every Expo since its inception, Dr. Joe Gilbert, a longtime Expo volunteer, was instrumental in the growth and development of the Trade Show. The Trade Show helped bring in much-needed income to help the show stay afloat. The early years of Expo struggled to draw crowds to events, such as the tractor pull. The very first World Food Expo was held in 1967 and featured banquets, World Food Forums and cattle shows held in the Arena Building. ![]()
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