Manitoba Ag Ex offers free fun

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This article was published 23/10/2024 (346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MooMania, EweMania and a party in the dirt are all lined up for this year’s Manitoba Ag Ex that kicks off today and ends Saturday, says Drew Clayton, sales and sponsorship manager with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.

“Ag Ex is so great, and there is no cost for admission,” said Clayton. “It may not be our biggest show – compared to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, but it’s one of those feel-good events that we have. It showcases pride in ownership — the care and hard work that goes into raising and presenting the different breeds.”

Four days have been set aside for Ag Ex, the largest all-breeds cattle show in the province, to showcase more than 500 head of cattle. It also features entries and demonstrations from Manitoba’s sheep producers — all held in the Westoba Ag Centre of Excellence.

Competitors vie for best heifer, bull, showmanship, and the finale which will be the Supreme Breed Extravaganza, with the winner earning a spot at Regina’s Agribition, the largest livestock show in Canada.

One of the cornerstones and mandates of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba is to educate and bring awareness about agriculture.

“That’s a big part of what we do, especially for schools,” Clayton said. “First of all, we go to the schools to talk about where their food comes from, and then we bring them onsite for MooMania and EweMania to show them the livestock — that happens on day one.”

Education, he added, also comes when school kids see exhibitors with steers and heifers who are the same age they are.

“For the junior show, those kids are up at five in the morning preparing their cattle to get ready for the judges,” Clayton said.

“They’re not waking up at 10 o’clock and getting on their PlayStation 5 or Xbox to start their day. They’re up cleaning their cattle getting ready for the show.”

There are eight breeds registered for this year’s show: red Angus, black Angus, shorthorn, speckle park, Simmental, Limousin, Hereford and Charolais.

People are encouraged to walk through the barns and ask producers questions, Clayton added. He said even though Brandon supports a large agricultural base from the surrounding communities, there are still some people who don’t know the ins and outs of the industry.

“A lot of people don’t know the difference between breeds. They’ll drive down the highway, and say ‘That’s a cow,’ but what kind? Not many will know. So, they might learn something.

“And I grew up with a guy who grew up in the town of Minnedosa, and he had no idea what a combine was, so it’s little things like that that we can explain,” Clayton said.

“We’re bringing the rural into the urban and showing people what it’s like out in the rural community.”

While there is no admission to watch the cattle shows inside the Westoba Ag Centre of Excellence, there is a party that is charging $10 a head. Doors open at 8 p.m. for Friday night’s Party in the Dirt for those 18 years and older, featuring Quinton Blair.

Blair has performed at Dauphin Country Fest, during the Calgary Stampede, and is the 2023 Manitoba Country Music Association Fans Choice Award winner, with his single, “20 Dollar Bottle,” earning him songwriter of the year.

Blair is also a four-time winner of both the MCMA Roots Artist of the Year and MCMA Male Artist of the Year.

“Last year was our 50th Ag Ex and it was our biggest,” Clayton said, “and this year we haven’t seen much back-off at all.

“It’s a tough time right now, and to go to big events, that costs money, but this one’s free and it’s a great spot to be,” Clayton said.

There will be food kiosks open during the four days of Ag Ex and a trade show with more than 20 vendors.

For more information, visit provincialexhibition.com.

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