From dairyherd.com
Joanna Shipp shares the details of her 2024 journey from Virginia to Wisconsin as a full-time dairy farmer and mom. Along with her best advice for first-time travellers
For dairy farmers, show crews, industry members and enthusiasts alike, the trip to World Dairy Expo is a special one — maybe the biggest of the year. And for those making the journey from outside the Midwest, it’s an even greater adventure, complete with anticipation, excitement, preparation and careful planning.
Even for the seasoned traveller, the World Dairy Expo trip presents a handful of firsts and new experiences. As a member of DMI’s National Dairy Board, Joanna Shipp is a frequent flyer who can attest to the excitement, and challenges, of navigating a trip to World Dairy Expo for the first time in 2024. Along with her best advice for first-time travellers, she shares the details of her 2024 journey from Virginia to Wisconsin as a full-time dairy farmer and mom.
Preparation and Packing
To-Do:
Book hotel: Plan well in advance for this one, and get in at the Sheraton if you can. Being able to walk over to the show each day is so convenient.
Book flights: The quickest and easiest, but often most expensive, is to fly into Madison. If you can’t get a reasonable flight there, you can likely connect through Milwaukee or Chicago. Both are within driving distance, too. For long flights, upgrade your seat if you can. I always prefer to check a bag instead of carrying on. Even if there’s a fee, it’s worth it. Keep in mind you need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID for both international and domestic travel now.
Make arrangements for family at home: For me, that means coordinating carpools for my 14-year-old daughter during that time.
Get milkings and chores covered: Starting about a month in advance, create a plan with family and employees for all tasks that will need to be covered while you’re gone.
Load up your phone: Download things to watch or read on the flight and get your plane ticket queued up for quick and easy boarding. Check out the World Dairy Expo app to plan your event schedule and purchase your admission ticket so you are ready for the show. Set up Apple or Google Pay, and you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.
Passport and currency for international travellers: If you don’t already have one, start the passport process no later than August to make sure you have it well in advance of leaving for the U.S. Then, plan for your spending. Most times, you don’t have to bring along cash to exchange for the local currency because most things you’ll do will accept credit cards. Check with your credit card company on their international fees and policies. Mine makes it very easy, so I don’t mess with exchanging currency anymore.
To Pack:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Business casual outfits (for working Trade Show booth)
- Weather-appropriate layers
- Cow-print attire (optional, but fun)
- Notebook and pen
- Portable charger and phone cord
- Headphones
- Reusable bag for Expo freebies
- A good book for the flight
- Neck pillow for flight
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Milkings and breeding are covered. Outfits are together for working in the booth. My daughter will get to everywhere she needs to go, thanks to my husband, family and friends. I’ve been on countless flights: This shouldn’t be any trouble. Getting excited!
Wednesday, Oct.2
OK, there was a little trouble. I was scheduled to fly from Roanoke, Va., to Chicago O’Hare to Madison, but the first flight was delayed, and I missed the connection. Lucky for me, there are flights every two hours from Chicago to Madison, so I was able to get on the next one. It’s an easy Uber from the airport to hotel. I should have arrived at 10 a.m., but it was 2 p.m. by the time I showed up to the booth. Some others from DMI and the board were very gracious about covering that time for me.
I went to the Dairy Girl Network event tonight, too. Note to self for next time: Wear some cow print! So many cute shoes, bags and jackets — some really stylin’ people here.
Thursday, Oct. 3
First full day at the show, and wow, such a cool place to be. Not sure anything else like this exists that’s exclusive to just dairy. There are so many who come every year. I enjoyed chatting with other farmers about what their dairy checkoff is doing and connecting with people from all over the country. Two for two so far on excellent ice cream flavors at the GEA stand, and I’m going to have a grilled cheese for lunch every day that I’m here. I also had a fun evening going out with a different group of farmers and people tonight.
Friday, Oct. 4
A big day: I spent the morning in the booth again, and then I was part of a Dairy Girl Network panel discussion. It was a fun and inspiring conversation with some lovely women about international dairy trends and women’s roles in dairy. It was an honor to be on stage with them!
I watched the Parade of Champions and selection of the 2024 Supreme Champion. Then, most headed home, so I got a quiet evening to reflect on my experience. There’ll be a Wisconsin football game in town tomorrow, so I saw the hotel entirely transformed from cows to badgers.
Saturday, Oct. 5
An uneventful trip home. Everyone was heading into town for the game while I was heading out, so I had no trouble and was even early for my flight. To-dos are to get back on track in the next two or three days: review activity system records, catch up on breeding, enter handwritten notes into the herd management system and do laundry.
Feeling grateful for the trip, meeting other farmers and the crew who kept things afloat at home.
https://www.dairyherd.com/diary-traveler-more-just-trip-wisconsin
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