Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleThe Manitoba Ag Ex finished its four-day run on Saturday, and organizers say this year’s event drew strong crowds and a large number of cattle. The information in this article comes from the Brandon Sun, which spoke with organizers and exhibitors after the show.
The annual event, billed as the province’s largest all-breeds cattle show, ran Oct. 28 to 31 at the Assiniboine Credit Union Agricultural Centre in Brandon. Organizers described it as a “huge success.”
Crowds and entries
The show featured the Limousin National Show, sheep competitions, livestock judging and a range of agricultural and commercial exhibitors.
Co-chair Tracey Wilcox told the Sun that more than 500 head were entered this year, and that the national Limousin show went smoothly. The trade show was well received, she said, with visitors moving through the halls throughout the event.
Admission was free, so organizers do not have an exact attendance count. Wilcox said the crowds appeared larger than last year and that the halls and many stands were packed at times.
DLM Show Cattle also broadcast the livestock shows online, so people outside Brandon could watch.
Supreme Championship and exhibitor appreciation
One of the highlights was the Supreme Championship, which brought the champions from each breed into the ring to compete for the overall title. Three judges evaluated the animals before the scores were tallied.
Horner Cattle Co. of Minnedosa won the female Supreme Championship. Beck Farms took the bull title with its Charolais entry. The competition also offered cash and prizes donated by supporters, including flushing vouchers for females and semen collection vouchers for bulls.
After Friday night’s Supreme competition, organizers held an appreciation event for exhibitors, serving beef on a bun and salads.
What exhibitors said
Darla Sauter, co-owner of Second Chance Speckle Parks in Fairlight, Sask., said her family has attended the Brandon show since 2018. She told the Sun the quality of the animals and exhibitors improves every year, and that the booths offered plenty of variety for shoppers. Her farm brought 10 animals.
Sauter said one of the biggest challenges for exhibitors is finding enough volunteers to help care for animals during a show. She added that good weather made the trip of about an hour and a half easier for her family.
Nikki Breckner of INC Cattle Company said this was her second time attending, though the farm has taken part for years. She called the experience a great one and described the turnout as strong and similar to last year’s.
Patrick Wilcox, co-owner of Twin Meadow Livestock Farm in Treherne, has attended for about 40 years and consistently for the past 25. He said the Simmental side of the competition had a new show division this year, a fullblood show alongside the purebred show. He said the organization and turnout were strong and the exhibitors were great. Twin Meadow brought five of its own cattle and helped care for three more from Ontario.
Looking ahead to next year
Organizers expect the event to grow in 2027. Tracey Wilcox said the Simmental, Charolais and Shorthorn associations are scheduled to hold their national shows at next year’s Ag Ex.
She said she hopes the extra national shows will lift attendance and bring more exhibitors, and that organizers want to fill all the trade show halls again. Sauter said planning is already under way on the exhibitor side as well, noting that exhibitors are always trying to improve.
Source: Brandon Sun
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