WCGALP Social Program
Opening Plenary and Welcome Reception
Opening Plenary: Sunday July 12, 19:00 – 19:30, Monona Terrace Ballroom
Welcome Reception: Sunday July 12, 19:30 – 22:00, Monona Terrace Rooftop Gardens
On Sunday evening, all participants are invited to attend the Opening Plenary and the subsequent Welcome Reception at the Monona Terrace Convention Center. Weather permitting, the Welcome Reception will be held on the Rooftop Gardens overlooking Lake Monona and Downtown Madison. Open to delegates and accompanying persons.
Mid-Conference Break Dinner & Party
Wednesday July 15, doors open at 17:00, dinner and entertainment from 18:00 – 22:00, Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin - Madison
An informal get-together, while enjoying different types of food and musical entertainment at the ‘historic’ Memorial Union, with terraces that overlook Lake Mendota and access to the relaxing Lakeshore Path. Open to delegates and accompanying persons.
Poster Sessions
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 17:30 – 19:00. Monona Terrace Convention Center
Combining science, networking, and socializing, delegates and accompanying persons are invited to participate in the poster sessions, while enjoying snacks and a couple of drinks, as well as beautiful views of Lake Monona from the two-level terrace where the poster sessions will be held. Open to delegates and accompanying persons.
Gala Dinner
Friday July 12, 18:00 – 23:00, Monona Terrace
After a true metamorphosis from meeting room to ball room, enjoy a sit-down dinner, music, and dancing in the Monona Terrace Ball Room and Lakeside Commons, with easy access to the Lakeside Path. Open to delegates and accompanying persons.
Mid-Conference Tours
Wednesday July 15, 12:30 – 17:00
Get on a bus with a packed lunch and join other participants to visit and experience various attractions and industry venues around Madison. Sign up as part of registration. Open to delegates and accompanying persons. All tours are $65 pp, which includes a box lunch, transportation, and admission fee.
Tour 1. Old World Wisconsin
Take a one-hour bus ride to travel back in time to experience the history and stories of America’s Heartland. Step into a world where the modern era fades away, revealing more than a century of history, including 60 authentically restored historic homes, farms, stores, and workshops. Explore on foot or ride the complimentary tram.
Tour 2. House on the Rock
Take a one-hour bus ride to enjoy the self-guided Ultimate Experience Tour of the House on the Rock. This unique attraction features a complex of architecturally distinct rooms, streets, gardens, and shops, with the house itself perched atop a 60-meter-high rock column, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Tour 3. International Crane Foundation
Take a one-hour bus ride to visit the headquarters of the International Crane Foundation for a guided tour. Here, you will have the opportunity to observe and learn about all 15 of the world’s crane species (this is the only place in the world with all 15 species). The tour covers current threats to crane survival, conservation methods for endangered species, and the foundation’s international work and initiatives.
Tour 4. Upper Dells River Boat Tour
Take a one-hour bus ride to explore the natural beauty of the Wisconsin Dells. Cruise along a channel carved by ancient glaciers, passing under pine-crowned cliffs, through the Narrows, and past iconic sandstone formations. Your adventure includes two exclusive shore landings: Witches Gulch—a dramatic, winding passage carved by wind and water—and Stand Rock, a towering sandstone pillar famous for the iconic dog leap to its summit. After the boat tour, enjoy some free time to explore the picturesque downtown of Wisconsin Dells.
Tour 5. Harley-Davidson Museum
Take a 75-minute bus ride to visit the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of this iconic motorcycle brand. Home to an unparalleled collection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and memorabilia, the H-D Museum spans two floors of exhibits and sits on a scenic 20-acre, park-like campus. Experience the legacy of Harley-Davidson through engaging stories, interactive exhibits, and an atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of freedom on two wheels.
Tour 6. UW Experimental Farms and J. Henry and Sons Bourbon Distillery
Take a 30-minute bus ride to the University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station dairy farm, where you will see demonstrations of the RIC2 electronic feed intake measurement stations, GreenFeed systems for measuring methane emissions, and other advanced technologies. The trip also includes a visit to the J. Henry & Sons Bourbon Distillery for a guided tour of bourbon production, followed by a sensory nosing and tasting experience.
Tour 7. UW Experimental Farms and Sassy Cow Creamery
Same as Tour 6, but with a visit to Sassy Cow Creamery for a tour of its dairy farm and creamery, followed by ice cream, instead of the distillery visit.
Tour 8. ABS Global
The ABS Global visit will start at the state-of-the-art Leeds facility, which is the newest of the ABS facilities. The Leeds facility was constructed in 2020 and houses over 400 bulls (beef & dairy bulls) in production stalls, as well as conventional and IntelliGen sexing labs. You will see a bull collection via an observation deck and hear about bull care, health, and sire selection. You will visit the IntelliGen sexing labs. The IntelliGen technology was launched in 2017 and since that time has produced over 40 million units of sexed semen. You will learn about the IntelliGen technology development, processing, QC, data collection and testing performed in those labs. Additionally, there will be a station on research activities within Genus. The visit will conclude at the ABS historical barn at the Dekorra campus which includes memorabilia from 85 years of ABS history.
Tour 9. STgenetics and Capital Brewery
STgenetics welcomes your group to tour Genetic Visions in Middleton. During the visit, we will introduce the key technologies behind our Bovine and Porcine Programs—highlighting the intersection of elite germplasm, genomics, and reproductive technologies—and how these are applied to accelerate and disseminate genetic improvement, producing more efficient and economically sustainable dairy, beef, and pork production. The tour will include a one-hour presentation and a walkthrough of our genomics laboratories. After the visit to ST, the bus will stop at Capital Brewery for a beer tasting.
Tour 10. URUS (Trans Ova and PEAK)
At the PEAK Genetics AI center in Watertown, the itinerary includes touring a bovine semen production lab (evaluation, processing, and packaging procedures) and distribution center, video presentation of bull housing and semen collection facilities, video presentation overview of PEAK genetics program, followed by a Q&A session with PEAK staff. At the Trans Ova Madison facility, attendees will be guided through a comprehensive tour showcasing one of our In Vitro Fertilization Laboratories, in conjunction with a Sexing Laboratory and distribution center. The experience includes a specialized station where participants may observe oocytes and semen samples under a microscope. Throughout the visit, attendees are encouraged to engage with the Trans
Accompanying Persons
Registration as an accompanying person will allow you to experience the more social aspects of the WCGALP program, including:
- Opening reception
- Poster sessions (with drinks and snacks)
- Mid-Conference Break evening dinner and party
- Opportunity to register for a mid-conference tour (at an additional cost of $65 pp)
- Friday gala dinner
In addition, Madison offers many opportunities for sightseeing and activities within walking distance or a quick public bus ride from the conference center and conference hotels. See https://www.asas.org/meetings/wcgalp-2026/madison-area-attractions for additional details.
