Agriculture

Why Meet in Madison?

Welcome to Madison, WI—a city where rich dairyland heritage meets groundbreaking agricultural innovation. Home to America’s first dairy school, the birthplace of the round silo and the pioneering Babcock butterfat test, Madison has long been at the forefront of shaping the industry. From the discovery of vitamins to the first cloned plant gene, the University of Wisconsin–Madison continues to drive the next wave of ag advancements. And the Dane County Farmers' Market, the largest producer-only market in the US, draws visitors from around the world, and farmers from around the region.

With flexible venues like the Alliant Energy Center—home to the iconic World Dairy Expo since 1967—and direct access to industry experts, Madison is the ultimate destination for your next agriculture event.

Host your event in a city that not only celebrates agriculture but innovates it. Meet in Madison.

Peers Who Brought Their Meetings Here

• World Dairy Expo
• Clydesdale Breeders of the USA
• American Hereford Association
• American Society of Animal Science
• American Junior Shorthorn Association
• U.S. Grains Council
• International Foodservice Editorial Council
• International Plant Propagators' Society
• Wisconsin Holstein Association
• Biodynamic Association
• World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology

Number of Speakers

Save on speaker costs and tap into the talent at University of Wisconsin–Madison, a top ten research institution. UW-Madison's Badger Talks program features 60 expert speakers in the science, agriculture and biotechnology industries. For a full list, visit Badger Talks.

Notable Achievements

• Discovery of the first vitamin
• Development of butterfat content test
• First cloned plant gene
• Nation's first rural sociology professor
• Development of disease resistance in cabbage, onions, potatoes, beans, peas and cucumbers
• Created techniques necessary for artificial insemination of livestock

Notable Numbers

• Wisconsin has more than 5,300 dairy farms (more than any other state)
• Wisconsin leads in US cheese production, making 25 percent of the nation's cheese
• 9.5 percent of Wisconsin's employment comes from agriculture
• Madison features 60,000 jobs in agriculture and 20 percent of the state's industry workforce
• Dane County Farmers' Market vendors utilize around 12,000 acres of land in Wisconsin to grow all their incredible products

Major Employers

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Center for Dairy Research
• Hormel Foods
• Kerry Foods
• Del Monte
• Seneca Food Corporation
• McCain Foods
• Colony Brands
• Associated Milk Producers
• Frito-Lay
• ASB Global
• Landmark Coop

Building the Future of the Industry

Nearly 3,000 industry-applicable degrees each year in the region.

Explore More

University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin Food Processing
Madison Region Economic Partnership
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
UW-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences Website

Submit an RFP

Interested in bringing your agriculture event to Madison? We can't wait to work with you to create the perfect event. Submit your RFP here.

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