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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVISORY COMMITTEES Manitoba Ag Days thanks Murray Frank, Dena Hunter, Melissa Springer, Blake Nestibo, Lionel Kaskiw and John Heard, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, for their assistance on the program. Manitoba Ag Days would also like to thank Blair McRae, Sherry Daniels & Bert McDonald for their help with the Bull Congress. Manitoba Ag Days began in 1978 as the Weed Fair, a spin-off from the Wild Oat Action Committee’s cross province meetings earlier in the decade. The Wild Oat Action Committee was a joint effort between the weed control industry, extension and research with a focus on wild oat control. The Weed Fair was also a joint industry – extension initiative featuring seminars and a trade show. The initial event was held in two locations with one day in Brandon and one day in Winnipeg. Those first shows attracted about 65 exhibitors and 3500 visitors. Interest grew quickly and the following year it expanded to two days at each location – the Keystone Centre in Brandon and the Convention Centre in Winnipeg. During the next few years industry participation increased, farmer interest grew and the show broadened its scope into a general crop production show. Attendance reached the 5000 -6000 level. In those early years the show was managed by the committee members themselves and the office administration was done by the Weed Section at Manitoba Agriculture. It soon outgrew this arrangement however and a coordinator was hired by the Weed Fair to manage the show and maintain an office. Elaine Johnson was the show’s first coordinator managing the show very capably for 14 years. By 1988 the event had moved completely away from its original weed control focus to become a much more general agricultural show. To reflect this move the name was changed to Manitoba Ag Days. In the early years the date moved around through Jan. to Mar. but by the late 1980’s had settled into the present mid January time period. The next major progression for Ag Days was the change to three days and one location. By the early 1990’s it was apparent that the two location format was difficult for exhibitors – particularly equipment exhibitors. In 1992 the Keystone Centre in Brandon underwent a major expansion adding on several rooms suitable for displaying large equipment. For the 1993 show the decision was made to change to a three day show located only in Brandon. The change was a success and marked the beginning of an era where exhibit numbers increased dramatically from about 150 to over 400 and attendance jumped from 6000 annually to the 30,000 range. During this period of expansion the show grew from 60,000 square feet of exhibit space to over 200,000 square feet filling the entire Keystone Centre. With the new addition to the Centre opened in the late winter of 2006 an additional 99,000 sq. ft. was be available for the 2007 show. Manitoba Ag Days has continued to change over the years adding events such as the Bull Congress, a farm safety area, crop diversification features and others. The seminar program has grown to include not only two locations with concurrent sessions but also to involve various commodity groups and farm organizations. Ag Days celebrated its 30th year in 2007 and during the years has grown to become the place to learn about new ideas and see the latest technology. It really is “Where the Ag Year Begins”.
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