Over 30,000 attendees expected at Red Deer’s 39th Agri-Trade Expo

This year’s show will entail some enhanced food and beverage services with the return of the Frontier Room Buffet. Located upstairs in the Frontier room, guests will be offered a full luncheon buffet of brisket and pulled pork from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and a full bar service until 4 p.m.

Other traditional highlights include the 15^th annual Ag Innovations program, with five finalists competing for $20,000 by pitching their groundbreaking idea or advancement in the industry. The $5,000 Farmer’s Choice Award will also presented.

READ: Agri-Trade Equipment Expo announces 2023 Ag Innovations finalists

Fiddler says the business-focused event for farmers and ranchers typically attracts between 28,000-32,000 attendees per year, the latter recorded for 2022. He says the show also acts as a social event for those in the industry, providing live music entertainment in the Ag East Lounge every afternoon.

“It’s after harvest; the farmers come out and they meet their neighbours and friends from all over western Canada and have a great opportunity to social network and talk about the business of agriculture,” he said.

Despite challenging climates this year, Fiddler says the central Alberta region harvested a good amount of crops, with lots of feed for animals. With commodity and cattle prices high, he says the industry is in a sound position.

Other areas like the southern parts of the Prairies, however, were not so lucky, experiencing drought, with the hope that this winter brings lots of moisture to help them rebound next season and carry farmers through the year.

World events, like the Ukraine-Russian and Israel-Palestine wars, can also have an impact on prices and volatility of the agricultural market, he said. As a result, Fiddler says farmers will need to maintain their marketing efforts and priorities.

“Finding ways to be the most efficient and get the most value out of every dollar they earn in terms of using technology to their advantage and genetics, all sorts of different things. Sustainability, of course, is top of mind with every farmer and protecting the soil. So, they’re always looking for those types of things; to make things better and more profitable while protecting the environment and producing high quality food products,” he said.

Fiddler says he has also noticed a shift over the years in individuals becoming more interested in farming.

“People are looking at opportunities to produce foods in microsystems. There’s opportunities for vertical growing systems, greenhouses, and even urban farming I hear more and more talk about,” he said. “Rather than having a big expansive lawn, people are growing their own food products and doing some home canning.”

He says while not the focus of their Expo, some exhibitors may be able to provide helpful information for those interested in soil enhancements, crop protection, and more.

An economic impact study in 2017 found that the Agri-Trade Expo was directly linked to $300 million in farm equipment purchases. With inflation, he estimates that number to have increased to $350 million. In tourism, he estimates the shows impact to be between $60-70 million with attendees and exhibitors staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, filling on fuel, and completing their Christmas shopping.

The show runs from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. Tickets are $15 with children free under the age of 12.

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by Alessia Proietti

Over 30,000 attendees expected at Red Deer’s 39th Agri-Trade Expo

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