April is almost here and that means thousands of dairy farmers will soon be heading to Stratford, Ont., for the Canadian Dairy XPO. This year, the show is celebrating its 10 year anniversary.
The annual dairy industry showcase takes place at the Stratford Rotary Complex on April 3 and 4. In 2023, almost 17,000 people visited the show. That’s an attendance record and CDX founder and operator Jordon Underhill is hoping to top that number when show doors open next month. “The Canadian Dairy Expo has really become the national showcase of an amazing industry and we’re proud of that,” he says.
For its 10th anniversary, CDX is planning some new programming to address the training needs of dairy producers. This includes the launch of a Canadian Dairy Business Summit, which is being billed as a one-day CEO training for dairy producers. “If you go on to these dairy operations, producers don’t need to be told about heifer calf development, ruminant nutrition, etc. They’re the experts in those animal science categories,” says Underhill. “But a lot of them haven’t had business training.”
The Summit takes place on April 2 at the Tom Patterson Theatre in Stratford and will feature experts from Canada, U.S. and Europe sharing insights on building a dynamic team and retaining great players; artificial intelligence and future agricultural impacts; negotiation and decision-making strategies; and Canadian contract law. About 200 dairy producers are expected to attend.
Watch RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin and CDX founder Jordon Underhill discuss what’s on tap at the Canadian Dairy XPO. Story continues after the video.
The annual tradeshow will feature 350 exhibitors from 35 countries. Highlights include the German Pavilion, which features the latest in German technology and innovations; Robotics In Motion, which includes live demonstrations of the latest in robotic technology specific to milking, feeding and nutrient management; and Genetics In Motion, featuring dairy daughters from top industry AI sires.
Calves For A Cause also returns this year. In 2023, when the final hammer fell, the sale posted record results with the sale gross hitting $285,000, up 58 per cent. From the sale proceeds, $65,000 was donated to Children’s Hospital in London. The Stratford General Hospital also received a $6,500 donation. It happens April 3 at 6:00 pm in the Cow Coliseum where 40 live lots will sell. The sale will take place live on Direct Livestock Marketing Systems (DLMS) and YouTube.
Calves For A Cause follows the annual CheeseFest event. It is scheduled for 4:00 pm and features entertainment by Canadian Idol finalist Jaydee Bixby.
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