Thousands of people will converge on Red Deer’s Westerner Park next week to take part in the annual Agri-Trade Exposition.
The four-day show, which runs from Nov. 11 to 14, will feature some 450 exhibits — ranging from farm equipment manufacturers to seed growers.
These will be spread throughout Westerner Park, both indoors and outdoors.
Although Agri-Trade has a strong farm flavour, the range of products and services showcased extend well beyond agriculture.
For instance, Home Happenings focuses on the home, including fashion and health ideas, and the Collector Toy Show features a variety of toys and collectables, including comic books.
Agri-Trade manager Pat Kennedy said late last month that the current economic downturn and ongoing problems facing the beef and pork industries didn’t appear to be hurting the 26th annual show.
Not only had every square foot of display space been booked, the waiting list of exhibitors still seeking to take part was the longest ever.
Kennedy was also confident that attendance this year will be has high as ever, pointing out that many producers visit Agri-Trade to network with their counterparts and get a sense of what’s happening in their sectors.
In fact, the theme of the 2009 event is “What’s New.”
Displays will include a strong focus on green energies like wind- and solar-generated power, and biodiesel.
There will also be demonstrations involving a GPS-guided tractor.
Ag Innovation Awards will be presented for the second consecutive year, with the finalists consisting of BASF, New Holland, Crawford’s West Inc., Manulift EMI Ltd., Jaylor Fabricating Inc., Agri-Trend Agrology, 4 Wind Energy Inc., Ranchview Inc., Renn Mill Centre Inc, Moly Manufacturing Inc. and Farmers Edge Precision Consulting.
The awards recognize companies that are advancing agriculture through ground-breaking products and services.
Agri-Trade will again honour a Farm Family of the Year, and award educational bursaries to ag students at Red Deer College and Olds College.
Show hours each day are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of admission is $10, which includes parking, with children under 12 allowed in for free.