Forty years ago, a business-minded group of Manitobans saw the need for a gathering that would be by, of and for those living and working in the world of agriculture.
Way back then though, the group had no way of knowing their one-room “Weed Fair” would explode in popularity and evolve over the next four decades as Manitoba Ag Days, Canada’s largest indoor farm show.
This year’s Manitoba Ag Days will take place January 17 to 19 at Brandon’s Keystone Centre, continuing a long-held tradition and calendar placement as “where the ag year begins” for the 45,000 or so attendees that will take in the three-day show.
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“This is a special year for us as it is our 40th Anniversary Show,” Kristen Phillips, general manager of Manitoba Ag Days said in a recent interview. “Manitoba Ag Days is the first agricultural show of the year and we are very excited about the opportunity for ag producers to visit and get the latest on technology, products and the ever-changing world of agriculture.”
According to Phillips, Manitoba Ag Days remains unique from most regular trade shows. Each year the popular farm show has continued to grow and still has steadfastly committed to ensuring that all exhibitors, speakers and presentations are strictly agriculture related.
“We have a very diverse selection of exhibitors that attend,” says Phillips. “Exhibitors know they have a targeted market of producers and the ability to promote their business and products as a tremendous opportunity.”
Some of the exhibitors have been coming to Manitoba Ag Days for four decades. The Keystone Centre provides 10 acres of floor space that Phillips says will be covered wall to wall with more than 550 exhibitors for the 2017 show.
Regulars
Phillips has been around Manitoba Ag Days since 2008 as a volunteer, board member, producer and current manager of the event. She says she sees familiar, friendly faces every year. In fact, some have been taking part in the show since the first-ever show. Phillips mentions Redfern Farm Supplies, BASF and Wheat City Seeds, off the top of her head as longtime exhibitors along with many others.
“This year is our biggest and best show yet,” Phillips said. “This year’s Ag Days will get off and running with a kickoff breakfast on Tuesday, January 17 at 7:30 a.m. with a country-size breakfast at the Roadhouse Inn located in the Canad Inn attached to the Keystone Centre.”
Phillips says the breakfast cost is a minimum donation of $5, with all of the proceeds going directly to the Agriculture in the Classroom — Manitoba program.
“Manitoba Ag Days is committed to youth education in the agriculture sector,” says Phillips. “The Canad Inns is a tremendous supporter of our show and the meal is part of their sponsorship to our event which allows us to maximize our donation to AITC. We cannot thank the Canad Inns enough for their support of our show over the years.”
Simpler
Also, says Phillips, construction woes and headaches from previous years are now gone.
“There is no construction this year in the Keystone Centre so we have full access to the entire building,” Phillips said. “The Bull Congress has been permanently relocated to Barn 11 and is accessible through the northeast corner of the Kinsmen Arena. We have moved some of the cattle-related exhibitors into the Kinsmen Arena to be closer to the bulls, connecting that specific audience’s main points of interest more closely.”
Properly aligning space in the massive Keystone Centre is a massive undertaking, yet Phillips advises the 2017 Manitoba Ag Days will utilize every square inch of the Keystone Centre this year after acquiring the last 19,200 square feet of the complex’s available space, bringing the total square footage of the show to 540,000 sq. ft. More space equals more exhibitors, including some that will be setting up in the complex’s Brandon Curling Club this year.
“We are very excited to announce that by maximizing all the space available to us we were able to welcome 60 new exhibitors for the 2017 show,” says Phillips.
The show will also continue the use of the outdoor displays to offer attendees the opportunity to look at the product — many of which are showcased in their full-functioning form — and then proceed inside to talk about it with the exhibitor. The outdoor displays provide a great opportunity for Ag Days attendees to see the equipment in its full size rather than looking at a picture in a brochure and having to follow up later with a visit to the dealer. There will be 33 outside exhibits this year.
Many hands
Phillips say her team of Christine Roskos, administrative assistant, her board of directors, as well as a team of volunteers, are needed to pull off an event of this scale.
All, Phillips says, are very proud of the community spirit that Ag Days brings to the Keystone Centre and the host Westman Area.
“There is so much more to our show than just the show — we would love for a master’s degree student to do an economic impact study of just how big of an impact Manitoba Ag Days has on Brandon and Manitoba,” Phillips said, half-joking. “We are now accepting applications… any takers?”
To celebrate the 40th anniversary, organizers are also encouraging every exhibitor to bring something nostalgic and have it on display in their booth to commemorate Manitoba Ag Days 40 years of Ag Show Excellence.
“The top three winners will have the option to receive a cash prize of $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively,” says Phillips. “Should the winners choose to donate their winning funds to a local charity, Manitoba Ag Days will match their contribution. We are also encouraging every patron to wear something nostalgic to the show. Our board will be handing out prizes to every patron seen participating in this year’s celebration.”
