Keystone Centre Archives - Manitoba Co-operator

Birds of prey get a moment in the spotlight in the Keystone Centre’s main arena, slated for upgrades, during the 2023 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

Millions announced for Keystone Centre revamp

Funds for the venue are part of larger agreement between Brandon and the province

By Alexis Stockford March 31, 2023

One of Manitoba’s premier agricultural venues is getting funds for a major facelift. On March 30, the province announced almost $11 million in funding for Brandon’s Keystone Centre over the next several years. The facility hosts Ag Days, three Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba fairs, Manitoba Potato Production Days and other major ag events. Why it

Kayci Cameron of Brandon gets acquainted with a curious goat at the 2018 Manitoba Summer Fair petting zoo.

Farmit Manitoba, News, Other

COVID-19 claims two-thirds of Brandon’s major ag fairs

Manitoba Summer Fair hits the chopping block, but word is still out on Ag Ex

By Alexis Stockford June 15, 2020

Brandon’s Keystone Centre should have been shoulder-to-shoulder crowds June 3-7 with the pop-up city of towering rides, food trucks and entertainers that is the Manitoba Summer Fair. This year, however, the lots were bare. The Manitoba Summer Fair is now the second of three major events put on by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba to fall prey

Local news, News, Other

VIDEO: Dome Building grand opening in Brandon

By Alexis Stockford September 21, 2018

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba held the grand opening of the refurbished Dome Building on the Keystone Centre fairgrounds in Brandon Sept. 12. The building, properly named the Dominion Display Building II, was built in 1913 for the nationwide Dominion Exhibition, but had fallen into disrepair before the community spearheaded a fundraising campaign to save

Jewles Smyth of Roblin managed to successfully get the tie rope off a calf after running the full length of the arena during one of two calf scrambles, where 20 teens try to catch 10 frisky calves.

Local news, Other

PHOTOS: Winter Fair attracts youth

Spring break meant hitting the Manitoba Royal Winter Fair for many students

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff April 9, 2018

Brandon’s Keystone Centre was recently once again the scene of the 111th Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Once again the event educated and entertained attendees and participants during the week-long event. The event drew young people both as patrons and participants, coinciding as it did with spring break for many of the province’s youth. Freelance photographer

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

Livestock, Local news

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

By Alexis Stockford November 15, 2017

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.

Livestock, Local news

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

By Alexis Stockford November 15, 2017

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

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.

Local news, Other

PHOTOS: Brandon hosts Ag Ex and affiliated events

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

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff November 6, 2017

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

Manitoba Beef Producers president Ben Fox (l to r) and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler mark the proclamation of Beef Week 2017.

Beef cattle, Local news

Province marks Beef Week

Beef Week was proclaimed the same week Ag Ex brought in  cattle from far and wide to Brandon

By Alexis Stockford November 3, 2017

Beef producers got a provincial boost to their promotion and public trust efforts during the last days of October. Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler proclaimed Beef Week Oct. 24, one day ahead of Ag Ex in Brandon, one of three major fairs run by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba and host to Manitoba’s largest all-breeds cattle

Wendy Gilbert-Armstrong drives Lovie Smith to first in the single pony pleasure driving  championship during the 2017 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

Country Crossroads, Local news

Gilbert Farm still at the reins after 60 years at Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

Gilbert Farm near Brandon, well known in Hackney pony-showing circles,  marked its 60th anniversary at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in 2017

By Alexis Stockford April 18, 2017

The first time Fred Gilbert walked into the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, Elvis was an exciting and controversial young performer and the baby boomers were in their teen years. He has warmed horses up for the evening show by car headlights, next to the now demolished Wheat City Arena, competed in rubber boots at the

The 40th edition of Ag Days kicked off this morning in Brandon.

Local news

WRAP UP: The Co-operator at Manitoba Ag Days

40th anniversary event ‘where the ag year begins’ for Manitobans

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff January 17, 2017

This year’s Manitoba Ag Days takes place from Jan. 17-19 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. Reporters from the Manitoba Co-operator will be at Ag Days taking in and talking to many speakers and exhibitors in order to report back to you, our readers. Below, we offer a wrap-up of what we covered, and upcoming

Daily Network News

Bunge beats profit estimates on strong processing margins, Viterra boost

Prairie forecast: Quiet pattern continues as winter struggles for a foothold

U.S. livestock: Cattle fall back, hogs continue slide

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