An old event now has a new facility packed with firsts.
The Western Canadian Livestock Expo held its 26th annual show April 22-23 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon.
It was the first year for the dairy cattle event in Prairieland’s new Ag Centre, which opened in November.
“This year we have people from coast to coast,” said Brenda Sapergia, Prairieland’s livestock manager.
“We have people who came as far as Vancouver Island and Ontario, and all the provinces in between.”
Sapergia attributed this year’s increased attendance partly to the national jersey annual general meeting, as well as the new 50,000 sq. foot facility.
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“In past years we would haul dirt in on the cement floor in the banquet room and make it into a cattle area,” Sapergia said.
“And then we’d have to scoop it out and scrub it down and make it back into a banquet or wedding or grad or something. So now we keep the dirt in all the time and we host livestock shows.”
Promoting youth in agriculture was a priority of the show
“There certainly seems to be more youth participation with the dairy this year, if this is any indication. I can’t say it’s setting a trend or anything, but I know we probably have double the entries for youth from last year.”
Several records were set this year. More than 40 animals were auctioned and 60 exhibitors showed 232 cattle, up from 135 last year.
“I know that in the last 10 years it’s probably the biggest number we’ve had.”
Sapergia said word around the barn was that the dairy market is holding its own, which she felt was reflected in sale prices. The 40 lots averaged $2,300.
“That’s pretty decent. That’s including the embryos in that number.”
Sapergia said the event had to hire two fitters from Ontario.
“It’s such an art to get done and there aren’t enough people who are qualified in Saskatchewan to do it.”
Jon Kingdon of Forest, Ont., has been fitting dairy cattle for seven years. He has travelled the world, fitting in Spain, Germany, Italy, the United States and Canada.
He said it’s a system of risk and reward.
“You got to get out there to make money but it costs money to get out there.”
He estimated only 200 to 300 fitters are available in North America. About 20 worked at the Saskatoon show.
“Success is measured by wins but it depends on what you’re working with too,” he said. “You can’t turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse.”
Kelwyn Hoeppner of Morden, Man., said that’s what he likes about his cattle fitting job.
“I just like the outcome, turning something typical into something great.”
Tanner Jones, 13, took his first airplane ride to travel from his family’s dairy farm near Woodstock, Ont., with his mother, Val, to accept an award for best summer yearling in Canada during the Jersey annual general meeting youth awards show.
He said he has started fitting and plans to eventually farm, probably in dairy.
Val Jones said they also made the trip because of the Jersey convention’s youth component.
“That’s why we bit the bullet and brought him out, so he could accept his award and talk to some other breeders so that he can learn what Jerseys have done for them.”
