For over 40 years Lethbridge Exhibition Park has been home to Western Canada’s premier Agricultural expo, with people from across western Canada coming to see what’s new in the industry.
More than 300 exhibitors, farmers and local producers showcased industry innovations from Feb. 25-27, covering 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
“I spent most of my life in the agriculture business and the goal is efficiency. The more efficient you are, the more money you make. Even though the equipment costs as much as half a million dollars, if it makes you three times more efficient than you were with two of those, then that’s the goal. The manufacturers, that’s what they strive for and that’s what they’re here for: showing the consumer the latest, greatest,” said Gordon Smith, Western One rental coordinator.
Companies from all over western Canada displayed their products and services including the latest farm and livestock equipment, buildings, fertilizer, feed, seeds and much more. It also gave them the opportunity to showcase what new farm technology is available for the upcoming farming season.
“Technology has taken over the ag business like every other business, so often times something that was new last year is obsolete this year. GPS has been one of the biggest improvements in the farming industry,” continued Smith.
The low Canadian dollar also had a role to play this year with some of the 20,000 expo visitors coming from the United States. “Lethbridge is unique because it’s so close to the border [that] people from the states are taking advantage of our weaker Canadian dollar,” said Jeff Anderson, Frostfree Nosepumps vendor.
Aside from farming equipment and rentals, the Ag expo was also host to the North American Seed Fair, which Lethbridge has hosted since 1897. Spanning across the three days, this year had more than 50 booths and 34 different classes.
The Natural Resource Conservation Board (NRCB) was also in attendance, equipped with a miniature model farm to help explain what it is they are regulating in the agricultural industry.
“We’re a provincial board that regulates confined feeding operations in the province of Alberta. So what that means is anyone that wants to build a new confined feeding operation or expand or construct a permanent manure facility, they have to come to us for the permitting on that. We also enforce the Agriculture Operations Practices Act (AOPA), which is provincial legislation that governs what you can and can’t do with manure,” said Karl Ivarson an NRCB inspector.
From huge spraying machines to tiny seeds, the Ag Expo had it all and with vendor spots in high demand and a wait list of around 70 to get an exhibition booth, next year’s event is sure to please everyone from casual browsers to farmers.
Exhibition Park is now tasked with preparing for the next event, which is the four day Home and Garden Show from March 12-15. The show is the largest of its kind in Southern Alberta.