There is a new facet to this year's Grain Millers Harvest Showdown in Yorkton which has organizers excited.
"The biggest thing this year is the Canola Expo," said Yorkton Exhibition Association manager Shaun Morin.
Morin said the day dedicated to the canola industry was a natural to add to the annual fall show which is marking its 22nd year.
"We're right in the centre of the canola industry with Richardson (Pioneer) and LDM Foods popping up," he said, adding "we're seeing more acres in canola too."
The one-day Expo which will be held next Wednesday on the first day of Harvest Showdown also fits a long-held mandate for YEA.
"It fills some of the agriculture education which is part of what Ag societies are supposed to be doing," said Morin.
The day will include speakers dealing with a number of canola production issues including topics such as management practices and weed control in canola, canola seed vigour and carry-over seed, and what Noah needed to know about where the soil nutrients went!
The keynote speaker is Gary Gregor.
"Gregor is known as the mystery man behind the Saskatchewan Roughriders' success in winning the 1989 Grey Cup," explained an Expo brochure. "Now he is one of the most sought-after motivational speakers by business and government sectors, as well as by sports organizations and the agriculture community. Gary works with the management and staff of some of the largest companies in the country to increase performance levels, improve customer relations, develop a winning attitude and build a winning team. Gary Gregor also works in sports with coaches, teams, and individual players. He has worked at the professional level with the CFL and The NHL, and for major league baseball."
Morin said the YEA sees the Canola Expo as an event with a lot of potential to expand in future years.
"I think this has a lot of opportunity to grow and become a major event in the province for the canola industry," he said.
In terms of agriculture education the YEA remains committed to hosting school tours for students.Morin said with Mosaic as a major sponsor they have solidified the program, and will again be welcoming students from the region.
Morin said working with area schools to help educate youth about agriculture is something the YEA truly believes in.
"It's our mandate; education and promotion. That's one area we really want to try and do a good job of," he said.
The heavy horse show, sponsored by The Hitching Post and Wellington West, was introduced 2008, and has grown since. This year two new associated elements are being added, horse pulls, and a chore horse competition.
Morin said both are a good fit with the heavy horse event, adding the horse pull association actually approached the YEA with a well organized proposal which made it easy to add them to the schedule.
The heavy horse show will be taking to the showring at the Farrell Agencies Arena Wednesday with events at both 1 and 6:30 p.m.
As part of the heavy horse show, The Mustang Show, which was highlighted in 2008, is back once again to provide entertainment between show classes.
Clayton Hawreliuk will also be on-hand with his popular miniature horse chuckwagon hitch.As for the rodeo, Morin said it has always been popular, and it returns this year with a new stock contractor.
"We tendered the contract," he said, adding they accepted the offer from Rafter Anchor Rodeo, from Wainright, AB. The group will provide the stock for the Yorkton New Holland sponsored rodeo.
The rodeo remains a Canadian Cowboy Association sanctioned event.
Horse fans will also want to take in the team roping, and team penning competitions which will take place in the Farrell Agencies Arena.
One of the highlight events will once again be the Farrell Agencies and SGI Canada Commercial Grain Show which has long been a featured event.
The pedigreed seed show sponsored by SaskPower will be part of the event as well.
As always the champion grain and forage entries - from the Wardale Equipment Forage Show -- will be sold at the awards auction and reception Thursday evening.
At the reception two major awards will be presented.
One will honour a Seed Grower of the Year, sponsored by Viterra, which is an award presented annually to recognize a seed grower in the parkland region who has made a contribution to the industry, and the second with mark an outstanding farmer in the region for his successes on the farm.
Livestock also remains a major facet of the event, with the Commercial Cattle show a highlight event. The event runs Thursday and Friday with the Futurity Heifer show, Pen of Bulls and the Prospect Steer show on Thursday with the popular Commercial Cattle show beginning at noon Friday, and the sale at 5:00 p.m.. All cattle events take place in the Industrial Building.
Logan Stevens is the Commercial Cattle Barn sponsor, as well as co-sponsor of the sales ring with GX94.
The Prairie Oyster Bar and Grill for consignors, buyers, sponsors and other cattle industry supporters is also back Friday night at the Bar and Grill with the music of Lenny and the Gypsies.If you like fiddle music, there will again be a fiddle contest, sponsored by Leon and The Rock, Saturday in the Convention Centre.
The YEA Ladies Auxiliary Household Arts Competition display is back as well, with vegetables, canning and crafts.
A Saskatchewan Auctioneering Competition was launched in 2004, and it's back for another year. The event, to be held Saturday, will provide a competitive demonstration of the top auctioneers from throughout the region.
The YEA is also teaming once again with the Yorkton Film Festival to host a film presentation.
Thursday the film "6 Rides to Sunday" A Brazilian Bull Riders road to the Calgary Stampede.
A synopsis of the film details "Enato Nunes was born Brazilian. At some point in his life he chose to leave home and enter a career as a Professional Bull Rider. Now he is about to enter one of the largest and most prestigious events in rodeo - The Calgary Stampede. In Calgary there is an organized Brazilian Community. They celebrate their culture and share it with us. How do they participate in the Stampede? Will they be inspired by Renato's story? Is there a common ground between their choice to leave home and Renato's?"
The film will be shown will be shown in the BMO Lounge at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
