Canada’s Farm Show plans other changes as well as organizers take steps to ‘reinvigorate’ the 46-year-old event
REGINA — Organizers hope a move to March will reenergize Canada’s Farm Show, which has been held in June since it began in 1978.
Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) announced the change last week as the 46th show got underway.
Attendance and exhibitor numbers have been declining over the last decade or so.
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Acting REAL chief executive officer Roberta Engel said the show’s advisory committee believes moving the show to a time when grain farmers in particular aren’t as busy will help turn that around.
“The farming cycles have changed over the years and we heard from farmers that back in the day when the farm show was happening and seeding stopped, it was a great time for farmers to get out of the field,” she told reporters June 18.
“With farm cycles changing, this is the right time for them. March is just before they hit their really busy time.”
Engel said show organizers did a lot of research, talking to farmers and exhibitors, about the change.
“We need to reinvigorate the show and move it to a time period where we feel that we’re going to be able to attract farmers and also bring in under-represented industries,” she said.
Other changes will occur as they fall into place in the next few months, but she could not offer any details. The show will include educational seminars, a revamped trade show floor plan and networking events.
Engel said she didn’t think the prospect of March snowstorms would keep people from coming. Farmers will drive through any type of weather, and the entire show is indoors, she said.
Asked if the show was moving because Ag in Motion is held near Saskatoon in July, she said people could perceive it that way but it’s more about making a great show.
“I think there is room in our industry for crop production in January, our show in March and then AIM in July. It’s about providing opportunities for farmers to attend all three shows that are going to get different content and different information to all three shows,” she said.
The Western Canadian Farm Progress Show was originally established by farmers and volunteers to showcase progress in equipment and practices. It was held mostly outdoors and featured antique tractor parades and pulls, the new inventions hall and a women’s pavilion.
The name was changed to Canada’s Farm Progress Show, and then again to Canada’s Farm Show with a focus on ag tech.
A 2012 news release noted that the show was expected to be the largest in the event’s history with more than 45,000 attendees, 800 exhibitors and 550 international visitors from 55 countries.
REAL expected about 20,000 visitors this year. There were about 195 exhibitors and show manager Jeanine Nazarchuk said the international guest list was about 100, including Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and Ukraine.
Nazarchuk said exhibitors provided positive feedback about the date change.
“Producers know that’s a great time for them to come inside, and our exhibitors know that that’s the time that producers are buying,” she said.
She added exhibitors were pleased with the number of qualified buyers at the show, and deals were being made.
Winners of the Innovation Awards were Devloo Roto Mud Scrapers, based in Somerset, Man., Wilger Industries Ltd. from Saskatoon, and Komb Ag Services of Altona, Man.
The 2025 show will be held March 18-20.
