The experience was thanks to the return of MooMania and its sheep-centred counterpart, EweMania, to the 2025 Manitoba AG EX. The dual educational events have become a standard event on the schedule for the fall ag fair in Brandon.

WHY IT MATTERS: Agricultural education events like MooMania and EweMania hope to bridge a growing gap between consumers and primary agricultural production.

The hands-on experience, designed for Grades 3 to 5, is meant to give urban children a rare opportunity to connect with the province’s agricultural industry.

Approximately 70 per cent of Canadians live in large urban centres, according to Statistics Canada’s 2021 census. Meanwhile, Canada’s farm population declined by over 60 per cent since 1971, falling to around 593,000 people. The average farm household size has also decreased, now sitting at 2.8 individuals per household.

Carissa Kirkup, a Grade 6 teacher at St. Augustine School in Brandon, brought her class for the fourth consecutive year. Very few of her students have connections to agriculture.

“That’s really why I like to bring them here, because I like to expose them to Manitoba agriculture and all the all the things we have,” she said.

The event also ties into her science curriculum’s “diversity of living things” unit.

“It’s a really hands-on day, and it’s a fun learning experience,” she said.

Features of the day include mock livestock shows, barn tours and interactive stations outlining how the industry works.

According to the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, which hosts Ag Ex, MooMania explores the life of a cow from the barn to the dinner table, while teaching students about food production and environmental sustainability. EweMania was added to the schedule several years ago with collaboration from the Manitoba Sheep Association

Simon Atkinson, a board director with the Provincial Exhibition and one of the sheep organizers, said education remains central to the show’s mission.

Historically, around 200 students from about a dozen Westman schools participated in the programs, according to organizers.

Kirkup, who has a farming background, said her school tries to incorporate agriculture into classroom lessons using available resources.

“I think it’s important to talk about because of the connection to food and everyday living,” she said.

Bridging the gap between kids and food

The disconnect between children and food production has become a pressing concern for agricultural educators, one that various programs have grown to combat.

Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba says they reached almost 49,400 students last year through registration in their programs. That’s up from just under 28,600 in 2022. The pandemic had forced the organization to pivot in 2020 and 2021.

Agriculture in the Classroom Manitoba has established a presence in every school division across the province, according to the organization’s 2022 annual report.

Another national agri-food initiative introduced more than 90,000 youth, including about 5,700 Indigenous youth, to the sector, and 82 per cent said they learned something new about farming or digital agriculture, according to Protein Industries Canada. AgScape, an Ontario-based non-profit that teaches students about food systems, reported in its 2023 annual report that 61 per cent of youth in northern communities wanted to learn more about agriculture after a classroom lesson.

High school students with farm or home-garden experience tend to have more positive attitudes toward fruits and vegetables and are more likely to eat enough of them, according to research published in the journal Agriculture & Food Security. Programs such as 4-H Canada’s Food for Thought and Yukon’s Kids on the Farm have reached thousands of children, helping to build curiosity, sustainability awareness and a stronger sense of connection to the land.

The federal government has also invested in agriculture education for children. Its 2025 engagement report on the National School Food Program highlighted the importance of linking school food programs to local agriculture, calling for region-specific research and curriculum integration to strengthen children’s connection to food systems.

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“The Limousin has come back, and we have an impressive amount of 30 head that will be coming to the show,” said Kristen Laing Breemersch, the event’s manager of operations and acting general manager. “We have the Speckle Park, which is kind of newer into Canada, and they will be showing as well.”

AG EX debuted its first Speckle Park cattle show back in 2018.

The event markets itself as Manitoba’s largest all-breeds cattle show. Along with livestock competitions such as the Red and Black Angus, Charolais and Hereford shows, the four-day event will feature the Supreme Breed Extravaganza on Oct. 31. The 2025 event also sees the return of the Little Lady Classic, junior show and Jackpot Bull Show.

“We are super proud to be able to hold the Supreme Breed Extravaganza … and the winner of both female and the bull go to Regina to Agribition,” Laing Breemersch said.

The last several years of the show have made space for the sheep industry, with ultrasound and shearing demonstrations and multiple show classes. In the past those have included a junior show, replacement ewe lamb and all-breeds. Last year, the fair added a feature on sheep facial recognition technology.

This year, the Manitoba Sheep Association is again broadening its participation.

“They are expanding their show and doing a market lamb. So, this year, for the first time … they have expanded their sheep show at Manitoba AG EX to include all aspects,” Laing Breemersch said.

Education a key focus for AG EX

Education remains central to the show’s mission, said Simon Atkinson, a board director and one of the sheep organizers.

AG EX typically hosts their MooMania event on one day of the show, opening up a hands-on experience for local students Grades 3 to 5. In the last few years, the fair has had a matching, sheep-focused event under the same premise, dubbed EweMania. Both return again in 2025.

“We believe in education, especially in today’s world, where so many people are now so far removed from agriculture,” he said. “It is really important to actually educate the younger generation about the truth of agriculture and what happens, where food comes from.”

AG EX runs from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.

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Jodi Suchoplas, a seasoned Manitoba rancher with over 20 years of experience, is something of an expert on the process. In fact, she’s the inventor of a tool called the “TestiGrip,” which turned heads last year at the Manitoba Ag Days farm show in Brandon. She was back at the indoor farm show this year, this time as a presenter.

WHY IT MATTERS: Castration by banding is often flagged as a go-to method, especially when dealing with younger bull calves.

When it comes to types of banding tools, producers have a number to pick from.

The economy bander is probably the most commonly used by producers, Suchoplas noted. It’s easy to operate and can be used with just one hand. Not only is it the least expensive elastrator on the market, but its replacement bands are also the cheapest.

“But I recommend that you get new bands every year, because if they dry out and crack, they’re going to break off,” she said.

They are good for younger calves and can also be used on sheep and goats.

The premium bander is similar to the economy bander, but slightly better quality. The opening is also a little bigger, making it more efficient for calves that need a little bit more spacing.

Suchoplas also pointed to the Tri-Bander option, which is a little bit bigger and, as such, works well for slightly larger calves.

“This is my personal favourite bander,” she said. “And the elastics that go with it are way more durable.”

Finally, the XL Bander, as the name implies, is ideal for larger calves. It is all metal and very durable. It’s the largest bander Suchoplas uses on her operation.

Getting down to business

Suchoplas emphasizes the importance of correct band placement and advises only banding if both testes are fully descended in the scrotum. The band should be released around the scrotal neck — the narrow area where the scrotum meets the body, just above the testes. And she also stresses the importance of being careful not to catch the testes in the band.

“This is very important, especially if you’re banding a calf that’s standing,” she says. “You might not be able to see correctly, and when you release, it could catch one, which then becomes an open wound that could become infected.”

Banding a calf lying down

Suchoplas says banding the calves while they’re lying down is the preferred style on her farm. It’s a one-person job, so in order to hold the calf in place and stop it from thrashing around and kicking, she tucks the calf’s top leg under her own leg to help restrain the calf.

“Then once you’ve gathered both testicles, open the bander and slip the band over them,” she said. “If you pinch in between the testicles, it helps push them down lower so that they stay in place.”

Sometimes a producer will encounter a calf where one testicle may be retained due to tightness in the muscle, Suchoplas noted. In these cases, massaging the muscle gently can help encourage the testicle to descend, while holding tension behind it to guide it into place.

“Lots of times you’re going to need somebody to help you hold it in place,” she says. “Once we open that bander, they just want to slip back on us.”

Suchoplas also stresses the importance of making sure a band is properly placed.

“It just takes seconds, but it saves us so much hassle. If we catch it, we can cut the band off and start over,” she says, but adds that if the band is not placed correctly, it can result in a retained testicle — often referred to as a ‘belly nut’ — which would require surgical removal by a veterinarian.

Banding a calf standing

The only calves that get banded standing on her operation are older calves that, for various reasons, weren’t able to be banded earlier.

“We like to use a chute system and always make sure when they’re in the chute to restrain the calf correctly,” she said, adding that to prevent kicking, the farmer should bend the calf’s tail over its back in a firm but controlled manner.

Ranchers may run into situations where one or both testicles remain retained in the animal’s body.

“If you’re having trouble getting both testicles into position, you can bring one down, close the bander, and then apply gentle pressure on the other testicle to help it descend,” she said.

For larger calves, Suchoplas stresses it’s essential to use the correct size of bander, such as the XL-Bander. Using a bander that’s too small could not only cause injury but also prevent the band from effectively cutting off blood flow to the testicles, leading to complications.

She also warns against trying to send an animal to market that wasn’t properly castrated.

It doesn’t matter if that animal has good muscle tone or is growing well or if the farmer things the market won’t catch a belly nut.

“They catch everything. If they don’t catch it, they’re in trouble,” Suchoplas warns. “They don’t want to see those rugged bulls, or bulls that have a belly nut and are kind of scruffy-looking with too much hair underneath; they’re always going to notice them.”

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However, technologies such as calving cameras can help make it much easier by saving time and labour. For many, it has become a necessary tool on their operations.

Why it matters: January on the Prairies comes with frigid temperatures and, for some cattle producers — particularly purebred operations — the peak of calving season.

Kevin Wirsta runs his operation, K-Cow Ranch, near Elk Point, Alta., a little over two hours northeast of Edmonton. He raises purebred Herefords, Charolais and black Angus. Currently, they calve out around 300 head and are slowly working to expand their herd. Wirsta focuses on moderate frame, thickness and milk production.

Ninety per cent of the Canadian population lives within 150 miles of the U.S. border, but Wirsta’s ranch is far north of that line.

That means things that affect all Canadian producers who winter calve, like the weather and the cold, are big considerations for Wirsta.

K-Cow’s main herd calves between January and March. Because they have been doing this for around 30 years, Wirsta has settled into a routine. In the fall, he starts to bring his cattle from pasture closer to home so it is easier to monitor them. The cattle stay out in the field until they show signs of labour.

Wirsta sorts cattle once a week. He moves those that look close to giving birth into one of three pens, depending how close they are to labour.

Once the calves are born, they will stay in those pens with their mothers for three days. If the weather holds up, Wirsta will turn them out to a bigger pen with shelter for three more days.

“If they’re good from there, then they head for the fields, back out to the paddocks,” he says.

The biggest challenge with their location is their cattle are usually on feed for longer, which is why he tries to keep them on pasture for as long as possible.

“A lot of times, birth weights can increase as you go north. Being on feed longer, the more you can keep your cows out on pasture, grazing and supplementing them out there, by far you’re going to have way easier calving.”

He says they make sure to have a good barn for the livestock and try to keep a close eye on them — especially at night.

“If there’s something that’s calving then certainly, we do go and we put her in (the barn). When it’s -30 C, we do check hourly. And if it’s warmer than that, generally it’s every few hours.”

Helpful tech

Wistra also has some technological backup to managing his calving season in the depths of winter: calving cameras.

Beef Cattle Research Council’s website says producers who are winter calving must ensure they have the proper resources available to prevent hypothermia. Technology can help.

Wirsta says without calving cameras, he doesn’t know how they would get through winter calving.

On not-too-cold nights, they can just check their cattle on the cameras instead of getting up to check every hour. When they are checking hourly, they still use their cameras first, then go out to make sure they didn’t miss anything. Calving cameras are also helpful because sometimes cows do not want to calve in front of a person. Cameras allow you to monitor their progress without disturbing them.

Not only do the cameras save them time, but they also save them sleep — something that is important for producers during those long calving months. It also helps to give peace of mind when Wirsta must leave the farm for something.

“When I was going to meetings, I phoned my neighbour to come over and check cows every hour or every two hours,” he says. “Now I just call them to come and put the cow in the barn because she’s calving. So it makes a big difference. They know they’re coming over for a reason.”

Wirsta says they started using cameras 20 years ago and the upgrades to the technology have been very helpful.

The biggest challenge for Wirsta was learning how to use the cameras. He says if you can have a thorough understanding of the technology, it helps when you are trying to implement it.

“I truly believe there should be schooling on them so that we can understand how to use them… most times, everybody says, ‘Oh, they’re just a plug and play.’ Well, yes, I agree, but there’s some technology to it that if you have a better understanding of it, it certainly works better.”

There are different brands Canadian producers can look into, depending on what they want their cameras to do and what their budgets are. For example, OneCup AI has a couple of packages, ranging from $2,400 to $2,500, that come with cameras, a WiFi package and subscriptions to a couple of their programs. Cameras from Precision Cam can range from $200 to over $2,000.

Wirsta says the cameras aren’t just beneficial in the winter — they are useful year-round on the ranch.

“I think once you have a camera, you’ll think, ‘Why didn’t I get it 10 years ago?’ They are certainly a lifesaver. As far as even checking your water bowls to see if they’re thawed, you can zoom right in and see the water.”

He adds they also use them during breeding season, when they do artificial insemination.

For winter calving, Wirsta doesn’t need any more technology than his right hand man — the camera system.

“They’re the biggest asset to the whole operation.”

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Getting DNA samples is adding another task to an already exhausting to-do list, but some in the industry argue those samples could bring benefit and may become the norm in the sector.

Why it matters: Calving season is upon many early calving producers on the Prairies, a group that includes many seed stock operations.

According to Sydney Tuckwiller and Paige Pratt, the benefits of taking DNA samples are almost countless.

“It’s amazing what we can do with this technology, and especially the information that we can gather from an earlier age,” Tuckwiller says.

Both Tuckwiller and Pratt are genomics experts at Neogen Corporation, a Michigan-based food safety and animal health company. While Neogen serves both companion and performance animals, on the beef side of things they focus on genomics for cow-calf, feedlot and seed stock.

Both decision-making and the producer’s bottom line might be informed by a DNA test, allowing the producer to invest in the animals most likely to give them better bang for their buck.

“If we have a better idea of what that calf is at an earlier age, then we can start making decisions sooner and then not having to spend so much money on the input on those individuals, because at the end of the day, that’s what ends up costing us money,” Tuckwiller said.

“And we don’t want to have to hold on to something that is only going to cost us money in the long run and doesn’t meet our breeding objectives.”

Pratt also noted that, on her own operation, DNA testing allows her to be more confident in her cattle and to know the quality of the animals she is selling.

Sean McGrath is a rancher and consultant in Vermilion, Alta. He says implementing DNA testing has been one of the most beneficial things he has done on his operation.

“Especially from a seed stock perspective, the quicker you can figure out with a high degree of certainty the pedigree on that animal, it sets you up to have a good start,” he said.

Sampling logistics

There are multiple ways to get a DNA sample. The most common are a hair sample or tissue sample.

Hair, sourced from the tail, neck or poll, is the easiest to get, but also the most likely to fail. There must be enough root of the hair to test. It also can be more expensive than the tissue sample, because it requires lab technicians to separate the entire hair follicle, which is more labour-intensive.

Experts instead suggest that tissue sampling units (TSUs) are the recommended way to go.

“The TSUs have less fail rate, they speed up the process and… they are easier to take than any other method,” Pratt said.

The unit punches out a sample from the calf’s ear. It’s also not wasted labour. Many applicators have the ability to install an ear tag at the same time.

“I think every seed stock producer should do it if they’re serious about producing genetics for the marketplace,” McGrath said.

The producer advised his fellow farmers to make sure each sample is well labelled, avoiding calf identification mix ups, and sent for testing promptly.

“That sample doesn’t do any good sitting on the desk or sitting in a filing cabinet. So you need to have a system where you’re actually actively sending those things in and getting test results,” he said.

The cost of a DNA sample depends on where you get it and what you want the lab to test. For example, the AllFlex tissue sampling unit can cost around US$30 for a box of 10. NeoGen’s costs around US$20 for a box of 10. Neither includes the price of the applicator.

You will also have to pay to have the DNA samples processed in a lab. However, there are ways to save money.

“You don’t have to test for everything. You might want to do a high-density test and have the genetic evaluation of it more accurate to set EPDs (expected progeny differences) on a calf,” McGrath said. “You might not have to test homo polled or colour until that bull makes your bull sale.”

He says if you already have the sample collected and sent to the lab, you can ask them to test for other things in the future — you don’t have to pull the sample again.

A dry ear is also key, Pratt noted. “If mother’s fluids are still on that calf, we’re going to have cross-contamination…Do not clean it with any disinfectants or cleaners. Just wipe it dry with the towel and then take that sample,” she said.

Producers are also warned against leaving the unit in a truck overnight or in other places where it could freeze or (later in the year) get too hot, increasing failure risk.

When to sample

There is no hard-and-fast deadline for taking a DNA sample, as long as it is early enough in the calf’s life. During calving, however, is a logical choice, because you can tag the calf as you take the DNA sample. Some farmers also sample at weaning.

“Originally, we took them at preconditioning for weaning,” Pratt said of her operation. “And then by weaning we would have the results. We felt like maybe we needed to back that up in our operation to give us even more time to be able to kind of put it all together.”

Producers should give themselves enough time to take the sample, send it into the lab, and allow processing time before they start making decisions about the future of the calf.

Genomic record-keeping

When it comes to the importance of genomic record-keeping, Pratt says it’s becoming more and more widespread across the beef industry.

“You don’t have to do it (keep genomic records), but you do have to compete against the guy down the road that is.”

Dairy, poultry and pork have already been genetic testing for years, and it’s a staple in those industries. The grain industry, too, is constantly improving its technology. Pratt believes it’s time for the beef industry to catch up.

“You can get on the cart, or you can be left behind,” she said.

With more people using genetic testing, technology continues to improve as well.

“The same money you would have spent five years ago or 10 years ago, you’re getting way more powerful tests. And that’s not going to stop, that’s continuing. So, I think that’s pretty exciting,” McGrath says.

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Its efforts are made possible with funding from the federal government’s agri-marketing program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The council will receive $871,200 from 2023-26. Federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay highlighted the funding during Canadian Western Agribition.

“This federal investment is vital for our hard-working farmers so they can continue raising first-rate cattle while embracing practices that protect our land and livestock,” he said.

Agribition is a partner of the council and plays role in promotion of Canadian purebred beef cattle. This year’s show included six in-person purebred cattle sales and showcased 10 breeds, which attracted international trade.

“Without promotion, without being able to go visit them and them come here, we wouldn’t have that trade,” said Sandy Russell, chief executive officer of the beef breeds council. “So, it’s those pieces, but it’s mainly in that high end of all genetics that they’re looking for so they can take back and amplify within their herd.”

Surrounded by the hum of the Agribition International Business Centre, and with the Simmental show going on in the arena below, Russell said this funding will be used for all aspects of international promotion for Canadian genetics, “to go out and bring inbound missions, outbound missions, so that we can build our trade exports on the genetic side.

“So live cattle, semen, embryos. And so, whether it’s through ourselves doing the work or our members doing the work, this funding is matching dollars that helps that promotion.”

Agri-marketing is about building relationships between potential buyers, sellers, breeders and everyone else in the industry on the international level.

Russell said the funding is also important for sharing important and necessary information about genetics, Canadian animal health standards and opportunities for trade.

The council met with a Mexican delegation at Agribition. Russell said discussion was focused on the interaction between the country’s beef industries and building relationships. The delegation wants to buy Canadian beef genetics to improve the country’s cattle herds.

International growth

In recent years, in part because of funding from the agri-marketing program, international attendance at shows such as Agribition has increased and interest in Canadian beef genetics has grown, said Russell.

The United States is the top marketing partner due to its proximity, but strategic markets that offer diversity and growth also include Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

The beef breeds council attends shows in North America and around the world, including Agribition, Farmfair in Edmonton, Beef Australia, National Western Stock Show in Denver and various shows in Mexico.

“So, a lot of it is travel, but a lot of it is also promotional materials, activities, virtual broadcasts of shows and stuff, so that people can view what was going on here and participate, like I said, in sales and stuff.”

Russell said the council has a prominent partnership with Australia. There were a few Australians at Agribition, notably the chief executive officer of Beef Australia, the biggest beef show on the other side of the world.

“We send representatives over to their big cattle show. They come here,” she said. “That would be a prime example of an activity that we’ve been doing and supported by these funding dollars that really translated into relationships, attendance, coming to each other’s country, seeing the cattle, seeing the opportunities, and then business being done.”

Russell said this commitment to partnerships is reflected by the willingness of Australian and Mexican buyers to travel to Regina at the end of November when there is risk of a foot of snow on the ground.

Cattle producers also play a big role.

“Breeders connecting with breeders is really what is ideal for relationships and for marketing. The Mexican breeders that are here, they don’t want to talk to Sandy. They want to go out into the barns and talk to the actual breeders.”

Russell urged producers to take advantage of opportunities at shows and the resources offered by the beef breeds council to better engage in the international marketplace.

“We can help support them inside those activities and participate in the missions. Whether that’s incoming breeders from other countries or outgoing to other countries, that opportunity to learn and to see what other countries need, from a genetics perspective, is extremely valuable.”

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