The next 12 months will be an interesting time, to say the least, for Arcola鈥檚 Chris Lees, who is the chairperson of the board for the Canadian Western Agribition (CWA).
Lees was re-elected to the second year of his two-year term as the president for Agribition during the annual general meeting in late June. The 2020 edition of Agribition was called off in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Lees and the other members of the executive and the board will have lots to do, as they plan to offer digital programming and more.
鈥淲e have a few programs that we鈥檙e still involved in,鈥� said Lees. 鈥淲e have a mentorship program. We have a scholarship program, an education program, and the education part of it is a huge aspect of the show itself.鈥�
Last year, for example, more than 10,000 children entered the Agribition barns and learned about where their food comes from, how it鈥檚 produced and how it gets to be on their plates.
The decision to cancel this year was tough, but it was one that had to be made.
鈥淲e have to be very aware of our exhibitors, our sponsors, our international people and our staff and our volunteers. We need to make sure they鈥檙e safe, and in order to do that, we felt it necessary to postpone the show for this year, and we鈥檙e just working towards 鈥� 2021 to be bigger and better than ever.鈥�
Lees, whose family has been in the Arcola area since 1882, is proud that his family has been part of Agribition since the first year in 1971.
鈥淢y father (Tom) was very influential in getting Agribition started in 1971, and we raised purebred polled Hereford cattle. We showed at the very first show, and our family has shown at all 49 of them,鈥� said Lees.
A lot has changed over the years, especially in the past few years now that it is in the International Trade Centre at Evraz Place.
It doesn鈥檛 matter where you鈥檙e from, when you arrive, Lees said you can spend the day touring the trade show, attending the livestock show, a rodeo or other entertaining events.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of things that you can do, and you can definitely spend a couple of days just touring around, and you probably won鈥檛 see it all,鈥� said Lees.
He views Agribition as a valuable event for Saskatchewan because it鈥檚 where you get to display your purebred livestock and compete with other breeders from across the continent. Agribition is the largest livestock show in Canada.
鈥淐anadian genetics are sought after worldwide, and we have a large contingent of international guests every year that buy embryos and semen packages, etcetera, just because of the influence that Canadian genetics can do for them on their herds back in their own home countries,鈥� he said.
As for the board, Lees said it is a diverse group of people with cattle producers joined by other livestock people, rural residents and urban dwellers.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all hard-working and the main goal they have is to make Agribition the world-class event that it has become,鈥� said Lees.
Each year 25,000 people pass through the Agribition barns on a daily basis.
Since this year鈥檚 Agribition won鈥檛 be happening, the 2021 edition will be the 50th year, and it will happen Nov. 22-27.
