Regular attendees of Agri-Trade see find plenty of familiar elements at the 30th edition of Red Deer’s farm equipment exposition.
But they’ll also find some new things — including an area dedicated to technological advances in agriculture.
This year’s show, which will run from Nov. 6 to 9 at Westerner Park, will feature a Technology Pavilion.
“We’ve had technology in the show before, but it’s been spread sporadically throughout the show,” said Patrick Kennedy, the longtime manager of Agri-Trade, who is retiring after this year.
“Now you’re going to go into one area and all of the technology will be in there, related to agriculture.”
Kennedy’s successor, Dianne Smirl, pushed for the change.
She thinks a designated technology pavilion will be appeal to today’s farmers.
“If you follow farmers on Twitter, it’s all technology,” she pointed out. “Yes, they’re still doing the basics of farming . . . but how technology is changing their operations is mind-blowing.”
Smirl’s interest in locating exhibitors on the basis of a common theme extends beyond technology. She’s also putting producer associations in the same area this year, and has established the Harvest Centre as the site of The Marketplace (formerly Home Happenings).
“Next year, we’ll be looking at livestock as a pavilion, so anything to do with livestock will all go into one pavilion,” said Smirl.
She believes concentrating similar displays together makes it easier for attendees to quickly and efficiently see what they’re most interested in.
Meanwhile, Agri-Trade 2013 is doing away with a designated international pavilion.
International exhibitors are still welcome and will be at the show, with Central Alberta: Access Prosperity hosting an expanded International Business Centre upstairs in the Prairie Pavilion. But Smirl felt the focus when it comes to booths should be content and not place of origin.
“There are so many North American companies that are exhibiting at the show that bring the latest and greatest,” she pointed out. “It’s all about product mix.”
Other changes for 2013 include the Collector Toy Show moving out of the Harvest Centre and into the Prairie Pavilion, upstairs.
The pedway connecting the Stockmen’s Pavilion to the Agricentre will not be used for exhibits this year, but organizers have managed to squeeze some additional space out of the Centrium by removing part of the arena infrastructure. The Agri-Trade Learning Stage — where presentations on ag-related topics occur during the show — will also be relocated out of the Centrium and into the Parkland Pavilion.
Among those speaking on the Learning Stage each day will be the winners of this year’s Ag Innovations program: John Deere, Devloo Mud Scrapers, Gatco Manufacturing, Ag Growth International, FarmLead and Farmers Edge. They were named in September as a way to increase public awareness about Ag Innovations, said Smirl.
Three grand prizes valued at a combined $34,500 will be awarded to attendees of Agri-Trade 2013 through daily draws.
The fact that 2013 is a milestone year will be celebrated at an exhibitor reception Nov. 6 at the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel. Among those recognized at the event will be 25 exhibitors who have participated in Agri-Trade since its inception.
“I think it’s going to be a great year for the show,” summed up Smirl.
In addition to Agri-Trade organizers and exhibitors ramping up their game for the 30th anniversary, this year’s bumper harvest should mean farmers are in a buying mood.
“You’ve got the perfect storm, if I can call it that, for an event,” said Smirl.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com