'Reinvigorate the show': Canada's Farm Show exhibits on the decline since pandemic
Exhibitors participating in Canada’s Farm Show (CFS) have decreased since the annual agricultural technologies event returned to full operations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Farm shows took a hit during COVID,” said manager Jeanine Nazarchuk.
In 2022, the show welcomed around 400 vendors and 18,000 farmers to the REAL District for the three-day long event.
While ticket sales increased to over 22,000 in 2023, only 350 exhibitors registered for the event.
Nazarchuk hopes attendence increases again but said there are only 250 vendors at the International Trade Centre for the 46th annual CFS.
“It’s natural for all trade shows, including Canada’s Farm Show to go through that,” she added. “The pandemic really took a hard hit on all exhibit shows.”
In an attempt to increase both developer and producer participations, organizers have made a decision to switch the CFS’s dates for the next three years.
And for the first time ever, the event will be held in March.
“We need to reinvigorate the show,” said acting President and CEO for Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. Roberta Engel. “We did a lot of research and talked to industry leaders and farmers.”
“This is an important change,” she added.
Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, the former Farm Progress Show has been where producers are introduced to the latest tech to help them on their farms.
Nazarchuk believes that will not change.
“We’re always building relationships to make [CFS] better,” she said. “And how to make the new market even more successful for Farm Show and building out for the future.”
Canada’s Farm Show will return in 2025 from March 18-20. The show will run from March 17-19 in 2026 and March 9-11 in 2027.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm. Florida orders evacuations
Florida's storm-battered Gulf Coast raced against a Category 5 hurricane Monday as workers sprinted to pick up heaps of appliances and other street debris left over from Helene two weeks ago and highways were clogged with people fleeing ahead of the storm.
'Selfish billionaire': Chip Wilson's mansion vandalized after political sign erected outside
Days after a political sign was erected outside Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.
Hurricane Milton has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm. What does that mean?
Hurricane Milton quickly intensified to a Category 5 storm on Monday, reaching the most dangerous rank on what's known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Two people injured in apparent road rage incident, shooting in Toronto
Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.
Disgraced Winnipeg football coach sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault
A disgraced Winnipeg high school football coach convicted of sexual assault and luring will spend 20 years behind bars.
As Hurricane Milton intensifies, is Disney World still open?
Despite Hurricane Milton evolving into a Category 5 storm, Walt Disney World Resort remains open to the public and will operate as normal. However, the park announced Monday a few closures in an abundance of caution.
Sammy Basso, longest living survivor of rare rapid-aging disease progeria, dies at 28
Sammy Basso, who was the longest living survivor of the rare genetic disease progeria, has died at the age of 28, the Italian Progeria Association said on Sunday.
Canadian leaders, demonstrators hold events on anniversary of Oct. 7 attack
Ceremonies, events and protests are being held across Canada today to mark the anniversary of a Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Senior charged after minivan set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall
The day after a minivan was set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall, a 78-year-old man has been criminally charged.