Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

Agribusiness gathering at the Peace Country Classic Agri-Show

Mar 7, 2024 | 6:00 AM

The 38th Foster’s Peace Country Classic Agri-Show gets going today (Thursday, March 7) at Evergreen Park.

Show president Jason Anderson outlines some of the traditional things that are back this year.

“We’ve got, of course, the large equipment coming in. We’ve got out Bids from Kids, our Michener Allen-supported fun auction with the children (where) exhibitors donate door prizes.”

“(The) kids donate food bank items to get fun money, which is always a hit with the auction class that they have beforehand for kids to learn how to auctioneer.”

The horse program starts Friday, the same day as the salute to the County of Grande Prairie Farm Family of the Year and the Northern Classic Bull sale.

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“The bull sale is Friday afternoon (1 p.m. in the Drysdale Arena),” says Anderson, adding “The horse program operates Friday and Saturday. It does not operate on Thursday. They’ve done a little bit of adjusting like they did last year so it’s just a two-day show over in the Lewis Hawkes Pavilion.”

The Peace Crafts & Creations Show & Sale is on all three days.

Trade Show hours are 10-5 Thursday and Friday, 10-4 Saturday at Evergreen Park.

The horse program events start at 10 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. It has its own trade show that runs from 2-8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday will also include the Youth Livestock Program in the Drysdale Arena where young people aged 6-18 will be the exhibitors.

There is no admission charge for any of the events at the Agri Show, except the banquet held to salute the Farm Family of the Year.

Anderson says exhibit space for the main trade show sold out.

“There’s some new exhibitors of course, new to us, which is fantastic to hear.”

“The other new thing is we’ve got rodeo announcer Brett Gardiner putting on a mental health discussion on Friday afternoon.”

The Thunder in the Pines skijoiring is set for Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at Gordon Badger Stadium.

Anderson says a new wrinkle called Couch Surfing has been added this year….

“(They) strap some skis or a snowboard to a love seat and then that gets pulled by a horse, so that sounds like going to be fun.”

“That’s a good way to shut the show down on Saturday evening.”

The show comes at time when there are some lower grain prices and worries about drought, but also higher prices for cattle.

Show president Jason Anderson says things are looking good for cattle producers.

“It’s about time and it’s where it should be.”

“The grain sector, it’s high and low. Anyone that marketed early in the year is smiling and those who decided to wait (are) a little bit beat down a hair, prices have come down. I guess farmers are a strong-willed bunch and they will continue.”

Anderson says the lack of moisture this winter is making some people “a little bit nervous.”