The 36th annual Agri-Trade Equipment Expo is hosting its final day at red Deer's Westerner Park, leaving exhibitors pleased with the return.

By Alessia Proietti

Networking Opportunities

Agri-Trade exhibitors express gratitude with show

Nov 12, 2021 | 2:52 PM

The 36^th annual Agri-Trade Equipment Expo has been a busy and successful three days at Red Deer’s Westerner Park.

After last year’s cancellation from the pandemic, exhibitors at the event were pleased to finally be able to congregate in person with other industry members.

“Networking is always an important thing in business. So to be able to get face to face with customers and do that, can really drive sales up and keep the economy moving,” said Brandon Olsen, Sales Manager of Edge Equipment. Located in Edmonton, the company sells new and pre-owned landscaping and forestry equipment like mulchers, dozers, loaders, and stump grinders, to name a few.

For other exhibitors, the trade show was an opportunity to promote a new invention and earn some capital for the project. RC Farm Arm was the winner of Agri-Trade’s 13^th Annual Ag Innovations Awards and $20,000 prize where creator Vince Pawluski presented his new product; a wireless tractor controller.

Acting as an arm by attaching to the armrest, a handheld remote allows a farmer to control the engine and accessories attached to the tractor, at a distance, preventing having to repeatedly enter and exit the machine. RC Farm Arm also won the $5,000 prize for “Farmer’s Choice Award”, voted by attendees.

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For other participants, the Expo was a helping hand for what’s been a rough year and one to follow.

“The steel we buy, the lead times to get them out used to be three, four months. Now it’s five, six months and that changes also once you get closer to the date,” said Sheldon Dmytriw, manager of Stealth Bin Products, representing Prairie Steel, selling grain bins and products.

“The previous year we ran out of stuff,” he said.

According to a report released this summer by Statistics Canada, prices for basic and semi-finished iron and steel products have increased for 11 consecutive months. In July 2021, the rise was 5.9 per cent from the previous month, and 50.9 per cent compared to July 2020, the largest recorded year-over-year increase. The main driving force for the inflation, the report states, is the high demand from China.

Grain prices have also increased due to the high demand and lower supply from droughts across the nation. According to the Alberta Crop Report, this year is 37 per cent below the average noted in the five-year yield index.

“Overall, sales are going to be down next year,” said Dmytriw.

This year’s Agri-Trade brought together 450 exhibitors with 500 exhibits, some having more than one, and an expected 22,000 attendees.

It is the first trade show for agricultural workers after harvest and before the new planning season for producers.

The Expo is responsible for $250 million each year in equipment sales.

“Red Deer is a beautiful city. They put on a good event every year; it’s well represented. We’re happy to come every year,” said Olsen.

Related: The 36th Annual Agri-Trade Equipment Expo starts Nov. 10