Canadian Western Agribition Celebrates 50 Years and the Return of the Pandemic – Regina | The Canadian News

This year marks 50 years of Canadian Western Agribition, a week-long event attended by more than 2,000 animals and people from across the country and the world at Evraz Place in Regina.

“We had a great return to Agribition,” said CWA CEO Chris Lane.

“We were not only celebrating 50 years, but we were also celebrating a return to the event in general after having to take us last year.”

Last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic like everything else. But with security precautions in place, this year’s event was a success.

Agribition enforced mandatory mask protocols and followed protocols including providing proof of vaccination or an approved negative COVID-19 test result upon entering Agribition grounds.

“What we saw were tens of thousands of people who [came] to the show whether it be exhibiting a cow at the trade show or rodeo or coming to look around, ”he said.

“I think overwhelmingly, it was a very positive event for the farming community, but also for the community here in Regina.”

The CWA show started November 22-27. Although the event is over, organizers are still working around the clock to tally up the overall attendance and revenue that was generated during the six-day show.

“It takes us a few days because we have so many different groups of people to measure,” Lane said. “We sold out the rodeo tickets on Saturday and [almost] on Friday.”

In the past, schools brought their students to attend Agribition. But with the COVID-19 restrictions, Lane said they decided to run the field trips online to make sure kids were included in some way this year.

“Thousands of children from across the province joined our new virtual education program online,” he said.

Lane is already looking forward to next year’s CWA event.

1:36Commissioning for the return of Agribition next week in Regina