Breeders pack Keystone for Ag Ex

Hundreds of cattle, sheep and their handlers are getting the final touches ready for this week’s Manitoba Ag Ex at the Keystone Centre.

The four-day show will feature the top cattle and sheep breeders from around the country.

“The biggest thing for us is to put on a good show (and) give (breeders) the platform for them to succeed in showing off their breeds,” said Clint Swain, president of the board of directors for the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.

The event, which starts Wednesday, is the province’s largest all-breed cattle show and will feature about 500 bovines. It will also host more sheep than in the past, although no number was confirmed on Monday as registration was still taking place.

“We have a number of breeds and breed reps attending, so we’re looking forward to it,” Swain said. “And then, we get into some junior showmanship classes as well. We have a sheep show going on. And then we wrap it up with our Party in the Dirt.”

The week is free to attend, aside from the Party in the Dirt, which features the band Prairieline.

Ag Ex is a chance for breeders to display what they’ve been able to accomplish over the last year, Swain said.

“It’s a platform for them to come and show off their herds and show what they’re able to produce on a lot of these family farms — and get some bragging rights out of the show,” he said.

On the cattle side, the overall winner of the event — called the Supreme Champion — gets to go to Regina and compete in the Agribition.

Competitors from Canada and the United States will compete in a point system over the three days.

Ten winners make it to the last event on Friday, where the Supreme Champion is crowned.

The animal’s size, looks and how its is handled are some of the ways points are won.

The event’s sheep show with follow a similar setup.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been just trying to grow the event, and we were approached by the sheep association (Manitoba Sheep) and asked if they could be a part of the event,” Swain said. “Obviously, as an Ag Society, we welcomed them with open arms.”

He added: “It’s kind of almost the same situation as the cattle event. They’re coming to show off all their sheep and, again, to be crowned the best in show.”

Kristen Laing Breemersch, Provincial Ex manager of operations, said the event is good at highlighting the region’s agricultural strengths.

“We strive to showcase agriculture in the region, and we are bringing our rural agriculture to urban life and families to show not only where their food comes from, but how it affects our economy and society with the agriculture-farming industry,” Laing Breemersch said Monday.

The size of the event is very similar to last year, she said, with the cattle category having sold out.

“We are very happy with the numbers that we have, and the barns are very full here in the Keystone Centre.”

Laing Breemersch also highlighted the junior competitions, which will have competitors from the ages of five to 21.

“It just showcases our young agriculture exhibitors that are growing into the industry,” she said.

People wanting to attend are asked to enter into the Keystone Centre through Entrance D. Cover charge for the Party in the Dirt on Friday, which is 18-plus, is $10 per person.

Saturday’s schedule consists of mostly junior events.

A full schedule of events can be found on the exhibition’s website at provincialexhibition.com.

» alambert@brandonsun.com