Ag Expo in Lethbridge, Alta., presented by Vanee Farm Centre, wound down on Feb. 27, after humming for three days with activity in the latest and greatest for agricultural producers.
The show continued to grow from last year’s 300 exhibitors, as it sold out, reaching its maximum indoor capacity. Some vendors had to be turned away due to space constraints for the highly popular event.
WHY IT MATTERS: Ag expos are crucial to the agricultural industry, giving stakeholders a one-stop shop to see all the latest technology innovations and products to maximize their operations, along with picking each other’s brains on how producers are navigating an ever-changing landscape.
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“We have found ways to find even more space inside the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre. Every square inch we’ve evaluated what we can fit in there, and found a way to cram it in. We want to make sure that as many businesses within the industry are represented as possible,” said Paul Kingsmith, director of event development for Excite Lethbridge, on opening day Feb. 25.
The packed centre included 326 exhibit spaces, both indoors and outside on machinery row, which was 20-plus exhibitors strong.
“I think what we are continually trying to do is make sure we have the right exhibitors here, people that are pushing the industry forward, those who are bringing in new technologies, those who are trying to make a difference in agriculture,” said Kingsmith.
Those exhibitors in the 258,000-square-foot facility represented six Canadian provinces, seven U.S. states, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia, featuring cutting-edge technologies and products powering the agricultural engine for farmers, producers and agriculture-industry professionals.
The trade centre, which opened in August 2023, was built with the Ag Expo in mind, being able to showcase huge 30-foot tall combines inside the walls of the building. The numerous meeting rooms for gatherings enables events like the FCC Young Farmers Summit and the ThinkAG Career Discovery Fair, a hands-on career exploration event for students in Grade 8-12 to be held during Ag Expo.
Thousands upon thousands of people made their way to Ag Expo every day, which included spectators also able to view the North American Seed Fair.
There were 180-plus samples that were judged in over 25 classes of pedigreed seed, and open and junior classes, as it celebrated its 129th year, making the North American Seed Fair one of the continent’s longest-running agricultural events.
