CowParade Wisconsin Auctions Raise
Big Moo-lah

More than $550,000 was raised – proceeds will help build the American Family Children's Hospital and support other local charities.
 

The CowParade Wisconsin 2006 herd of artistically created fiberglass cows that grazed Madison and surrounding communities for nearly five months has raised more than $550,000 to benefit charity. The majority of the proceeds will help build the new American Family Children's Hospital in Madison. Proceeds will also benefit more than 30 other non-profit organizations.

Live Auction Results

The "Dazzle in Dairyland" live auction drew more than 500 people to the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall on Friday, November 10. The 44 cows offered at the live auction sold for $363,500 – an average of nearly $8,300 per cow.

"Friends of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics has made a $1 million commitment to the new American Family Children's Hospital," said Beth Blum, Director of Annual Giving at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. "The live auction brought us much closer to this goal. We are very grateful to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board for selecting the new children's hospital as CowParade Wisconsin's primary beneficiary."

Dairy producers Fred and Mary Laufenberg of Middleton purchased Lot Number 1, "Windows of Wisconsin" and set the bar for the evening at $10,500. The Laufenberg's purchased their cow in tribute to their son who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 16 and treated at the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital. He is currently in remission.

The gavel fell twice at the $13,000 level. The sale of Lot Number 4 was announced prior to the auction. The students of Windsor Elementary School and the DeForest Area Chamber of Commerce raised $13,000 to purchase "Cowpiary." Lot Number 25, "If You Want to be a Moosaic, Come Along With Me," was purchased by the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation and also sold for $13,000.

A silent auction of six calf-size "mini moos" and 13 tabletop-size "micro-moos" created by local artists and area high school art students along with four Wizard of Oz cows raised more than $30,000. The silent auction high-seller was a dairy-themed creation named "Milky Way" by artist Larry Schultz of Milton, Wis. "Milky Way" sold for $3,200 to dairy producers from Platteville, Wis.

The live auction grand total raised was $394,200.

Online Auction Results

The 37 cows sold through the CowParade Wisconsin online auction grossed $188,450 and averaged $5,093 – the highest online total since the Houston CowParade in 2001. The CowParade Wisconsin online auction drew bidders from across the country. The top seller, "Rise and Shine," went to Houston, Texas, for $10,750. Wisconsin's online auction drew more participants and more bidding activity than other CowParade auctions in recent years, according to Ron Fox, CowParade Holdings Corporation vice president.

CowParade Impacts Millions

The CowParade Wisconsin auctions conclude an event that colorfully showcased the Wisconsin dairy industry to millions of people across the state and country. Throughout the event, dairy industry messages reached more than 15 million people via print, radio, television, and web media.

"This promotion put dairy on the front page in communities across America's Dairyland. The coverage we received far surpassed our expectations," said Patrick Geoghegan, senior vice-president of corporate communications at WMMB.

View Final Auction Sale Prices for Each Cow
 

CowParade Wisconsin at a Glance

• CowParade Wisconsin presents a total of 101 cows
   
• Nearly 100 cows were on display in downtown Madison, Fitchburg and Sun Prairie
   
• A herd of three cows traveled the state, visiting dairy-related events. The herd was presented by the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. The traveling herd was made possible by Kwik Trip.
   
• The WMMB is serving as the Event Partner and Presenting Sponsor. Other businesses and organizations also are participating in CowParade Wisconsin 2006.
  Full List of Sponsors
   
• CowParade expects 1 million visitors to view each cow.
   
• CowParade began in Chicago in 1999 and has since been presented in more than 30 cities around the world.
   
• CowParade Wisconsin is the first event in the Midwest since Chicago's 1999 event.

Dairy Did you Know?

• The dairy industry contributes $20.6 billion to Wisconsin's economy annually. That's $39,000 per minute! (Florida's citrus industry has an economic impact of only $9 billion and the Idaho potato industry contributes only $2.5 billion.)
   
• Over 99% of Wisconsin's more than 14,000 dairy farms are family owned.
   
• Wisconsin cheesemakers make more than 600 varieties, types and styles of cheese – more than any other state.