Thousands of farmers from across Western Canada and the United States and visitors from around the world are expected to head for Saskatchewan June 21-23, 2022, for the return of the live and in-person Canada’s Farm Show.
Known as the Farm Progress Show held at the Regina exhibition grounds for more than 40 years, the event has gone through some changes in the past couple of years.
The rebranding with a new Canada’s Farm Show name was to be launched with the 2020 event, but the whole show had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Canada’s Farm Show offered a limited but still successful virtual or online event.
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But for 2022, after a year of planning, the gates of Canada’s Farm Show will be open and welcoming to an expected 30,000 visitors over the three-day run, featuring some 500 exhibitors spread over the 102-acre exhibition grounds, as well as the 1.5 million square feet of indoor show space.
In another rebranding move, the long-standing Evraz Place and the exhibition grounds has also been renamed as the REAL District (Regina Exhibition Association Limited District). The rebranding “showcases the world-class infrastructure,” billing itself as Canada’s largest interconnected event complex that includes Viterra International Trade Centre, Brandt Centre, Queensbury Convention Centre, The Co-operators Centre and AffinityPlex.
The 2022 show is intended to bring together an extensive display of agricultural products and services and the key farming decision-makers, says Shirley Janeczko, manager of Canada’s Farm Show agricultural program.
“The three-day program will be informative and educational as well as entertaining,” she says. “It has been two years since we have been able to stage a live trade show, and farmers are interested in seeing what’s new, but we also know they want to have fun, too.”
Some of the key events
The Launch Pad stage located in the Viterra International Trade Centre serves as the hub of many of the show’s activities.
Opening day, June 21, is the kickoff of the popular 24-Hour Ag Tech Challenge. This is an event that brings together what’s described as “the best and brightest in agriculture, talented entrepreneurs and business leaders, developers and technical experts, as well as designers and marketing gurus,” who are challenged to solve real-life problems the agricultural industry is facing.
The competitors have 24 hours to develop a solution to the problem, and convince a panel of industry experts that theirs is the best idea. Along with bragging rights, the competition also offers $7,000 in prize money. The winner of the challenge will be announced Wednesday, June 22.
Great lineup of speakers
The Launch Pad will also be the location of new product launches during the show, says Janeczko, as well as the stage for presentations by a great lineup of speakers.
“We have excellent speakers covering a wide range of topics all the way from farm management and a look at input costs to the impact of international affairs on Canadian agriculture.”
Those speakers include the following:
· Karen Proud, CEO and president of Fertilizer Canada, who will talk about policies, politics and programs affecting fertilizer availability and pricing.
· Tim McMillan, who earlier this year stepped down as president and CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, will talk about international protestors and how they might try to affect the future of agriculture.
· Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation, will talk about the importance of Truth and Reconciliation and the role agriculture can play with stronger inclusion of Indigenous people and options moving forward.
· Patricia Youzwa, former president and CEO of SaskPower will speak on investing in infrastructure to unleash the potential of Canada’s agriculture sector across the value chain.
· Kristjan Hebert is the managing partner of Hebert Grain Ventures, a 30,000-acre grain and oilseed operation in southeast Saskatchewan headquartered at Moosomin. A well-known businessman and consultant, he will talk about the myths and facts involved in running a successful farming operation.
· Adrienne Ivey, farmer, blogger and writer, who along with her husband and two children operate Evergreen Cattle Co. near Ituna, Sask., will give a talk on modern agriculture and how things have changed.
· Vikram Vij, chef and former member of Dragon’s Den, will talk about how Canadian food ingredients are being used in international cuisine.
· Kevin Stewart, long connected with agriculture over his more than 30-year career, is a media entrepreneur and producer of the Agvision television series, which aired across Canada and the United States. Stewart, who was raised on the family farm in Middlesex County, Ont., will give a talk called, “Fake News, Real Problems 1.0 — How the 24/7 News Cycle Impacts Your Mental Health.”
Another popular event during Canada’s Farm Show is the 44th Annual AgTech Innovation demonstration. In a partnership between Canada and the United Kingdom, some 20 companies (12 from Canada and eight from the U.K.) will present their latest technology ideas to investors.
Companies were invited to submit applications of their newest ideas and advancements to Canada’s Farm Show AgTech Innovation Program, leading to some great, new, innovative products being showcased in the AgTech Innovation Pavilion.
The top five finalists will receive a professional video of their invention and a prize package valued at $2,500.
Women’s conference
The 4th Annual Empowering Women’s Conference presented by Farm Credit Canada will be held Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in the AGT Lounge in the Mosaic Stadium. The conference gets underway with registration at 11:30 a.m.
Led by keynote speaker Darci Lang, the Empowering Women’s Conference is for all women who want to enhance their family life, community, career and industry, says Janeczko. Lang is a well-known motivational speaker and author based in Regina.
This conference will provide you with the tools, inspiration and motivation to become the architect for change in achieving success, whether you are an agriculture student, producer, rancher, entrepreneur or a corporate agri-business representative.
Also on the program is the Awesome Food Founder Panel featuring the following entrepreneurs:
· Erin Kernaleguen, Living Sky Farms (grain farmer), RM of Birch Hills, Sask.
· Lindsay Beaulieu, I Love Microgreens (urban farmer), Red Deer, Alta.
· Shakirat Edoho, Atare (tomato stew base), Regina, Sask.
Janeczko says Canada’s Farm Show is also pleased to host several international delegations including representatives from Europe, Ethiopia, South Africa, Mongolia, Australia as well as the United States.
Along with a lot of business opportunities, the show does feature social events including the Professional Bull Riding Canada Cup event, June 22, in the Brandt Centre, and the outdoor Farm House Lounge, which features entertainment, food and refreshments, runs daily.
Two long-standing exhibitors will also be featuring special events as they celebrate anniversaries. Agtron, a Saskatchewan-based leader in agriculture electronics will be marking 40 years in business, while Degelman Industries, makers of tillage tools and other field equipment, is planning events to mark its 60 years in business.
The gates at Canada’s Farm Show will be open at 9 a.m. each day, closing at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 4 p.m. on Thursday. Tickets for all three days bought in advance online are $15, while during show days the price is $20 on the day of the event. It is $10 for children 12 to 17 years of age and tickets are free for children under 12.
For more details and a complete listing of program events and times, visit the Canada’s Farm Show website at http://www.canadasfarmshow.com.
