New trade centre bolsters action at 2017 Agribition: CEO

The cattle trailers and trucks have rolled out of Regina as the Canadian Western Agribition wrapped up for the 47th year.

With about 120,000 visitors through the doors of the new International Trade Centre at Evraz Place, organizers are calling Canada’s biggest livestock show a success.

Agribition CEO Chris Lane said the new building made a big difference to the way people could enjoy the show.

“What we were able to do is really bring two sides of the show together and make it a lot easier for people from the livestock side to see more of the tradeshow, and people from the education and the tradeshow side to come and see some animals,” Lane said.

He noted in previous years having the show spread out over different buildings created a challenge for people trying to see everything, and it was easy to miss certain events.

Lane said there was a lot of positive feedback from international delegates commenting on the facility, so it seemed to make a big impression.

Lane said organizers improved the education portion of the 2017 show, highlighting technology such as a calving simulator.

“Any time we can get people more engaged in doing things and touching things, I think that’s a win for us,” he commented.

Other entertaining highlights included goat yoga and a steer riding school for kids.

Lane challenged Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart to a steer riding contest as a fundraiser for STARS Air Ambulance. After watching the kids, he said they had a moment of doubt that they might be in over their heads.

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“It turned out okay, I don’t want to admit this, but I guess I have to, I think he lasted one more buck longer than I did on that steer,” Lane said.

On the livestock business side, there were some major international sales and high prices, with one bull calf selling for $55,000.