Canadian Western Agribition has put out the disinfectant welcome mat.
In light of recent world events and the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the United Kingdom, extra security and safety measures will be in place when the annual Regina show begins Nov. 19.
President Gary Anderson said the board just wants to be careful.
“Agribition has always taken great precautions to look after exhibitors,” he said.
While agri-terrorism is unlikely, there will be 24-hour security at all gates to the grounds. Normally the gates are staffed only during show hours.
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International visitors will walk across a disinfectant carpet at the airport and at Agribition’s international visitors reception area to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering Canada. A detector dog, trained to sniff out prohibited or restricted plants and meat products, will be brought in from Vancouver.
Grant Royan, chair of Agribition’s health committee, said contaminated food products can be the source of foot-and-mouth disease, and that’s why the detector beagle will be at work during the show.
“That’s the biggest risk we have,” he said.
Last year, about 500 international visitors attended the show. Anderson expects that will be cut in half.
“It would be na•ve to think people will travel the same after Sept. 11.”
That could mean lost sales in terms of business done in the barns. However, Anderson said most sales are domestic and he expects the total to be similar to last year’s $3 million.
Livestock entries are 4,500, about 200 more than the five-year average, including 2,400 purebred cattle.
New events this year include the North American Equine Ranching Information Council draft horse classic sale and futurity, Canada’s Greatest Cowhorse Competition and live internet auctions during the select ranch horse sale and the Saskatchewan Elk Breeders Association video auction.
To combat another disease, there will be no live elk on the grounds this year. Anderson said because there is no live test for chronic wasting disease, it may be some time before elk reappear at Agribition.
LiveGlobalBid.com will conduct the real time internet sale.
