Tracy Wessing trims one of the sheep on display during the commercial shows at Ag Ex 2023.

Sheep in the spotlight at this year’s Ag Ex

It was the second year sheep had a major footing at Brandon’s Ag Ex

The packed barns and hum of activity were par for the course as hundreds of cattle, some from hundreds of kilometres away, squeezed into Brandon’s Keystone Centre Oct. 25-28. Ag Ex, the third and final fair hosted annually by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, has always drawn the cattle crowds. It has typically featured at

The cattle industry gets back to the Keystone Centre barns with Ag Ex Oct. 26-30.

Ag Ex marks return to live events

Organizers say cattle show numbers were reminiscent of the much smaller Ag Ex of years ago

It’s going to take time for the cattle show at Ag Ex to get back to where it was pre-COVID-19, according to cattle show and fair committee co-chair Dallas Johnston. He added organizers have had nothing to complain about when it comes to the quality of competition. “We’re down quite a few head, but I


ag ex

Fairs seek federal support after COVID-19 cancellations

Both Ag Ex and Ag Days have announced they're cancelling

EVENTS This month, Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba’s Ag Ex and Manitoba Ag Days announced their upcoming shows were cancelled

An organization representing fairs, exhibitions and ag societies is asking the Canadian government for $74 million to keep 743 shows afloat after many, including Brandon’s Ag Ex, cancelled over COVID-19 concerns. “The bulk of us have one shot to generate the majority of our revenue every year for the next 365 days and we’ve lost

Ag Ex debuts Speckled Park breed

Speckled Park cattle are more common in northwestern Saskatchewan, but they’ve made their way onto the Ag Ex schedule this year

For Darla Sauter of Second Chance Speckle Parks, the trip to Ag Ex is a pleasant change. It’s the difference between making the drive to Edmonton or Lloydminster, all the way across the province from her home in Fairlight, Sask., and making the hour and a half drive to Brandon. “This is huge for us,


Russell Thompson of Poplar Park Farm poses next to his national awards. The Hamiota producer took home Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor from the province’s first National Shorthorn Show at Ag Ex 2018.

Three national cattle shows land in Brandon

It was a good year to be an Angus, Simmental or Shorthorn breeder in Manitoba, at least in terms of travel time to the national show

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba more than doubled down on purebred cattle for Ag Ex. The fall fair included three national breed shows this year. Ag Ex typically draws one national breed organization, the most recent being the Canadian Charolais Association last year. This year, Angus, Simmental and Shorthorn all hosted their national shows at

A high school rodeo competitor teaches how to grip the bull rope to students from Earl Oxford School Oct. 26.

Students see rodeo first hand

Ag Ex once again brought in the region’s Grades 6-8 students for a look behind the scenes at rodeo

If you asked Brandon’s middle schoolers how a bull rider grips his rope on Oct. 25, you would probably get silence. If you asked the same question a day later, they might be able to answer. Riding rough stock was one, but not the only, topic at the Keystone Centre’s main arena as the region’s


Grade 3-5 students “bid” on animals during the mock auction at Moo!Mania Oct. 24 in Brandon.

Bridging the gap between urban and beef farm

Elementary students from southwest Manitoba beat the Ag Ex crowds Oct. 24 with an agricultural education event around cattle

The day before Ag Ex is all about setup for most, but the festivities were already in full swing for 360 of the region’s Grade 3-5 students. Moo!Mania, the fair’s nod to public education and the cattle industry, returned in the lead-up to the fair. One of three major events organized by the Provincial Exhibition

Producers from Ontario to Alberta enter the ring in Brandon during the Canadian National Charolais Show and Sale, 
part of Ag Ex this year.

Ag Ex brings on the breeding stock with national Charolais show

Brandon’s Ag Ex was host to the Canadian National Charolais Show and Sale

Brandon had the full focus of Canada’s Charolais industry Oct. 26-27 as gates opened on the National Charolais Show and Sale. Breeders from Ontario to Alberta arrived at Brandon’s Keystone Centre for the event, part of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba’s Ag Ex. “A national show for us is huge,” Ag Ex cattle show committee


Brent Stewart, of Russell’s Stewart Cattle Company, leaves the show ring with a red ribbon. By the end of the show the animal was awarded the reserve champion junior bull banner in the black Angus division.

PHOTOS: Brandon hosts Ag Ex and affiliated events

The annual gathering has a strong livestock focus and attracts participants from across the West

It was an action-packed few days at the Keystone Centre in Brandon with Ag Ex and affiliated events attracting participants from across Western Canada. The activities included agriculture education events, the Charolais national breed show, an all-breed cattle show, horse shows and the Manitoba Finals Rodeo, just to mention the highlights. Freelance photographer Sandy Black

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba held Ag Ex at the Keystone Centre in Brandon on October 26 to 29.

Ag Ex presents marketing opportunities

More than 700 head of cattle were moved into Brandon’s Keystone Centre last week for the province’s largest all-breed cattle show

You could have the best cattle in the world, but if nobody knows about them, it won’t do you much good. It’s a reality cattle breeders across Canada struggle with, and a big reason there are cattle shows, say exhibitors at this year’s Ag Ex event in Brandon. The show is the province’s largest all-breed