IDW director Declan Patten said the organisers were focused on continuous improvement, making incremental changes each year to enhance the experience for exhibitors, sponsors and visitors.
“One thing we’re always trying to do is improve the event by those small percentages,” he said.
“This year, we’ve introduced a couple of new initiatives that have really enhanced International Dairy Week.”
One of the most significant changes for 2026 is the introduction of a new exhibitor management system, Showman, which is widely used in the United States.
The platform streamlines entries for exhibitors, particularly cattle exhibitors, and has simplified administration for organisers.
“From a management perspective, it’s been a game changer,” Mr Patten said.
“When you streamline processes, it allows us to focus our time and energy on other parts of the event.”
He also confirmed International Dairy Week would unveil a “new look” in 2026, describing it as something that has never been done at the event.
While details remain under wraps, Mr Patten said the changes would be beneficial for exhibitors, guests and sponsors alike.
Entries are already tracking ahead of last year, with around 1080 cattle entries received to date, compared with 1055 in 2025.
“It’s a great result, especially given the tough 12 months farmers have had with high feed costs,” he said.
“At the end of the day, this event brings the dairy community together, and that connection and networking is a big part of what makes it special.”
The 2026 program will again feature seven breed shows judged by seven international judges, with officials travelling from the United Kingdom, the US and Canada.
“That’s quite rare,” Mr Patten said.
“To have judges of that calibre from around the world is an incredible opportunity to showcase our industry on a global stage.”
Minor program changes have been made, particularly to youth events.
The traditional youth focus day has been spread across Saturday and Sunday to reduce the workload on young exhibitors, while still maintaining strong participation, which typically includes more than 150 children.
International Dairy Week will again kick off with the Tatura Food Truck Festival, which attracts more than 2000 people and is seen as an important way of giving back to the local community.
Mr Patten said the event would also place greater emphasis on agricultural innovation, highlighting cutting-edge technology aimed at improving on-farm productivity and business performance.
“It’s not just a cattle show,” he said.
“It’s a place to learn about technology that can actually improve your business and push it forward.”
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