On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, World Dairy Expo hosted its annual Friends of Expo celebration, honoring the hundreds of volunteers, paid workers, and partners who make World Dairy Expo possible. Highlighting the evening was the presentation of the 2024 Friends of Expo awards. Receiving recognition this year were Phil Willems, Waunakee, Wis., and Emily Yeiser Stepp, Leesburg, Va.

During the week of Expo, Phil Willems can be spotted throughout the grounds, wearing a cow hat and leading local fourth graders to various locations. Willems has been a School Tour volunteer for over 20 years and has touched the lives of hundreds of Madison youth through his generosity, friendliness and knowledge. Willems is also an avid supporter of the dairy industry and is known to spoil his tour groups with ice cream. “In a matter of hours, Phil makes the students in his tour group feel like part of his family. Which is why at the end of his tour, 20 fourth graders nearly take him to the ground with a bear hug. It’s truly heartwarming to witness,” says Cassi Miller, Attendee Programs Manager.

Emily Yeiser Stepp is an involved member of Expo’s Board of Directors, but she was honored as a Friend of Expo for going above and beyond the expectations of that role. This year especially, Yeiser Stepp has offered her knowledge and expertise of the industry for media interviews, in addition to building relationships with staff members and supporting them throughout the event. Yeiser Stepp is a familiar face in the industry and at World Dairy Expo, having participated in youth competitions, served as a contest official, taken on leadership roles and experienced success in the Showring.

World Dairy Expo would not be the event it is without its volunteers, and more, the merrier! If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer for World Dairy Expo 2025, visit https://worlddairyexpo.com/pages/Volunteers.php to learn more and complete the Volunteer Interest Form.