‘Agribition’ worth the trip

The time and the money it took to organize a bus trip for 27 district farmers to attend “Agribition” in Regina, Sask. last week can be summed up in three words–well worth it!
Kim Jo Calder, who helped organize the trip with the Rainy River Future Development Corp., said she’s gotten nothing but positive comments from everyone who went.
And everyone seemed to have a good time.
“It was excellent,” she noted. “There were excellent cattle shows–there wasn’t any breed that looked more outstanding.”
Devlin resident George Hyatt, who made the trip with his wife, Bev, was equally positive.
“I’ve never been there before and it was sure well worth going to,” he enthused, noting the breeds of cattle, different machinery, silage demonstrations, and other aspects pertaining to farming made it a valuable experience from an agricultural point of view.
“Everybody learned a lot from going to ‘Agribition,’” he said. “It was a very good group of people to travel with, a good place to stay, and everything.”
Shirley Morrish was one of the people on the trip who had been to “Agribition” before. She and husband, Tom, made their first trip to the western fair some 20 years ago due to their interest in Galloway cattle.
“We usually go to ‘Agribition’ whenever we can,” Morrish said. “We’ve gone before by ourselves and we’ve gone with another couple.
“This is the first time we’ve gone on a bus trip and it’s very different,” she continued. “We found it very interesting. You get to know people a lot better when you’re together [like that].”
The trip included a stop at the cattle-handling facility in Virden, Man., which boasts a very modern auction facility. With several people on the trip involved with the ring scale project at the Stratton sales yard, Calder said that proved to be an early highlight for many.
“We made some notes and got some contracts for our ring scale project,” she noted. “We may never be that modern but there were things there we can use to improve the flow of cattle at our own place.”
Although the travellers just got back Saturday, talk already has sprung up about making the trip to “Agribition” a regular event.
“I think the planning should start right at January,” Morrish said, noting it would give organizers time to come up with a daily schedule, giving people a better idea of what would be in store for them.
“I know for a fact we’d have a full bus next year if we did,” she remarked.