In July 2019, Ag in Motion™, the largest outdoor farm expo in Western Canada and sister show to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, celebrated its 5th anniversary year. The show welcomed 30,474 attendees through the gates and featured 552 exhibitors. Wednesday, July 17 was the biggest day on record for the show in its five-year history, with attendance reaching 12,660.
“The show just continues to grow,” says Show Director Rob O’Connor. “We’re up to 552 exhibitors – that’s 20 per cent growth compared to last year, and almost three times bigger than in year one. And, we’ve really been able to establish the site. There are more roads, more infrastructure, internet and a strong cellular network.”
Ag in Motion was proud to recognize its founding exhibitors who have been coming to the show since the beginning.
Thousands of attendees watched field demonstrations of fertilizer spreaders and air seeders, visited 32 acres of company crop plots to view the latest in seed and crop protection, witnessed livestock handling and equipment demonstrations, attended a number of industry expert talks, and more. Plus, attendees were able to witness autonomous farming live during the Dot Demonstration, featuring the fully autonomous power platform.
Ag in Motion also welcomed a number of international visitors to the site, including Australian, Brazilian, Ukrainian and African groups. “It’s amazing,” says O’Connor. “The message about Ag in Motion is being spread through social media, through television and through word of mouth, and I think all the reports are so strong that it’s helping us continue to grow the show internationally.”
Glacier FarmMedia, parent company of Ag in Motion, announced a new initiative for the site, revealing the new name Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm Langham. This extends the show site from a three-day event to a yearlong innovation hub for Western Canadian agriculture. This property will be home to Ag in Motion, applied research trials, season-long demonstrations, farmer clinics, training and field tours.
“Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm Langham is a new initiative for our show site and the industry. Not only do we have the three-day event, but now we can use this property in the spring, summer and fall to do more applied research, share more knowledge and try more products,” says Bob Willcox, President, Glacier FarmMedia.
In BMO Livestock Central, farmers were able to visit the new ProFarm Teaching Parlour, where the company showcased a portable milking parlour. Dr. Roger Thomson, a dairy veterinarian and the man behind the teaching parlour, was on-hand for questions and discussion.
The Field of STARS fundraising event returned for its second year and raised over $470,000 for the STARS Air Ambulance service. This brings the total raised at Ag in Motion to over $1 million. The event featured dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment by Hunter Brothers.
This year’s Innovations Program was again run in partnership with Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA), and attracted multiple entries across five categories. Winners were announced on Monday, July 15 at a reception in Saskatoon hosted by SREDA and Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC). The winners are as follows:
- Plant and Soil Science Category: Xarvio Scouting App, from Xarvio – Digital Farming Solutions
- Animal & Livestock Category: Accumix 1000S Self-Propelled Feed Mixer, from Highline Manufacturing
- Agriculture Equipment Category: Bin Safe System – Grain Bin Fall Protection, from Northern Strands
- Agribusiness Services Category: Q-Protect App, from Quantum Genetix
- Ingenuity Category: Sabre Clamp, from Airguard.
Planning has already begun for 2020, including new demonstrations, events and more infrastructure improvements.
Ag in Motion was held in Langham, Saskatchewan on July 16-18, 2019. Next year’s expo will be held July 21-23, 2020. For more information, visit aginmotion.ca.