Counting dollars and attendance at a livestock show is only one way to measure its strength.
This year, Canadian Western Agribition, held in Regina from Nov. 20-25, counted determination and resiliency, after an exhibitor died the day before the show began.
President Herb McLane said the Agribition community is relatively small and losing a well-respected breeder like Charlie Watson, of Mount Forest, Ont., was a struggle, especially early in the week.
McLane expressed his condolences to the family, while saying that exhibitors expected nothing less of Agribition than to carry on.
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“Folks gathered themselves and went on with business,” he said. “That’s what we’re here to do.”
McLane said prices in the auction ring and through private treaty sales trended well.
“This year in particular we saw quite a spread throughout the barns and throughout the breeds, with interest being expressed both nationally and internationally with respect to a broader cross-section perhaps than that which we’ve seen,” he said.
Among the highlights were a $37,000 Red Angus bull calf, two ranch horse sales of $10,000 each and international sales of genetics to Kazakhstan and Australia.
Attendance at this year’s show appeared down slightly from last year.
“When you look at our numbers, last year we had an exceptional year,” McLane said. “When you look at our trend, depending on the measurement, we’re consistent with our three- to five-year average.”
International attendance totalled 418, from 51 countries and 15 American states. Those numbers are up from last year.
American exhibitors, who brought cattle to the show for the first time since the U.S. border closed to Canadian breeding stock due to BSE, were overwhelmed by the response they received, said McLane. The Americans were unable to take their cattle home because of the border restrictions.
“The reputation of Agribition internationally is strong. It’s sound.”
Opening day Nov. 20 included the third annual Feed the World admissions program, which allows people through the gates with a food or minimum $2 donation in support of Western Canadian food banks.
This year 2,400 kilograms of food and $8,440 in cash were collected.
McLane added that Agribition wants to see action on facility improvement and replacement in 2007. He said the show must have facilities that are representative of a world-class livestock show such as Agribition.
