Regina, REAL District to welcome Canada’s Farm Show for 47th year

Even though Regina Exhibition Association Limited has dealt with a whirlwind few months, Canada’s Farm Show will carry on.

The event is to take place June 18-20 at the REAL District.

“Agriculture is extremely important to our province, to our city and to our organization and it’s really the pillar of REAL. Based on that, there was no question in our mind as an organization that Canada’s Farm Show was here to stay and it’s a pillar and we will continue to deliver on an amazing show,” Roberta Engel, the acting president and CEO of REAL, said Thursday.

After an MNP report indicated REAL’s operations weren’t sustainable, the organization requested nearly $6 million in its latest budget request — around five times more than it had asked for in previous years.

Shortly after that, REAL’s interim board of directors unanimously voted to relieve president-CEO Tim Reid of his duties.

Engel was then brought in to be the acting president and CEO as the board works through the financial issues it has been facing.

“Stepping into a role like this isn’t difficult when you have a really strong team and a really strong organization,” she said. “I have a leadership team and a management team and all of the frontline staff have been more than supportive and they are so passionate – not just about this show but every single show and every single event we deliver on.

“I can’t say it was easy but it was definitely something I wanted to do just knowing we have such a great team here and a great set of employees.”

With the uncertainty around REAL, and the fact the farm show sees around 16,000 to 17,000 people attend it every year, Engel wanted to make sure people had confidence the show would go on.

“That’s why I wanted to make sure I got an extended invite to all of our farmers – we want them to come. We want them to attend our show and see what we can offer …,” she said. “We’re the pillar of innovation and this is where you can come see some new opportunities and what AgTech is doing in the farming industry.

“It still is about innovation, collaboration, education, networking, getting our exhibitors (and ensuring) our sponsors and partners all have the opportunity to meet and speak with the farmers and producers in our province and from across the country and around the world.”

This year’s show will focus on AgTech and the many innovations occurring that farmers can take advantage of.

That includes the return of Cultivator’s 24-hour start-up event, which “brings together the best and brightest in agriculture, technology, and business to pitch ideas, form teams, and build a minimum viable product in just 24 hours.”

Passes for the event are on sale and can be found here.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie