The show
Ag-Expo was just part of the calendar for our family when I was growing up. It never occurred to me, at a young age, that the whole purpose was to showcase agriculture. Growing up on a farm, it always just seemed to have the same kind of stuff we had all around us.
Ag-Expo was just part of the calendar for our family when I was growing up. It never occurred to me, at a young age, that the whole purpose was to showcase agriculture. Growing up on a farm, it always just seemed to have the same kind of stuff we had all around us.
The show started on like a Monday, if memory serves, and ran all week. We always went on a week night, after school.
All the action took place in the Pavilion. When you walked through the front doors, or I guess the ones on the east side, you were immediately in a seating area with a bit of a cafeteria. It was more like a concession, with a pop machine, popcorn, chips, and all the requisite big plastic signs from pop companies.
When you went into the pavilion, you were greeted by the seed fair.The front part of the pavilion was kind of like an arena or gym with raised seating all around. There were containers with all kinds of grains from wheat and barley to flax and even rape seed. I remember running my fingers through flax like it was sand on the beach.
That area opened onto the biggest part of the pavilion, which was this wide open space where all the displays were set up. It was a fair with everything from farm machinery to irrigation equipment, chemical, seed and fertilizer dealers and anything else that was related to agriculture.
At the back of that area was an actual cafeteria with a kitchen. We always ended up there and relaxed for a few minutes after walking around for an hour or two. I distinctly remember how much I loved their fries and gravy, and the odd hamburger when I got to have one.
Attractions
There were attractions that seemed to come back year after year, that I remember well.
There were attractions that seemed to come back year after year, that I remember well.
The most memorable, and the one I always looked for, was the tap that seemed to hang in mid-air with water coming out of it straight down into a barrel of some sort. When I was young, I wondered how they did that. But, just like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, the mystery was revealed – there was a pipe running through the stream of water we couldn’t see. I always wanted to stick my hand in there to feel for myself, but there were signs warning not to do that. That should have probably been a hint.
Another memorable attraction was this farm safety display. It focused on the dangers of electricity, and how if something such as the box of a grain truck hits a power line, it will conduct electricity, which could electrocute the people in the truck – if they don’t know what to do. I always remember the sound of zapping electricity.
One year, our class went to Ag-Expo during school time. We all held hands and the organizer ran a mild current. I still remember the jolt of electricity I felt in my arms between the shoulders and elbows. It was a reminder to be careful, and I have not forgotten that to this day.
Another attraction came a bit later. Channel 2&7 was offering these cool new black ball caps with their logo on them. You could trade in your old hat for one of their new ones. There was a catch though. They only accepted one of each type of hat so, as the week wore on, more and more people were refused. They also stapled each hat on the back of their booth so it became like this wall paper. It looked really cool. You could find the Channel 2&7 booth by looking for the big hat. It was a replica of their black hats, but more than 10 times the size, and it hung above the whole booth like an umbrella. That was cool too.
Hanging out
One year, I remember making plans with my friend Mike, who was also my neighbour, to meet at Ag-Expo and hang out. I recall meeting up with him and shaking hands like we were soul brothers. We had a classmate named Jack, who was a real good friend of Mike’s, and we met up with him too.
One year, I remember making plans with my friend Mike, who was also my neighbour, to meet at Ag-Expo and hang out. I recall meeting up with him and shaking hands like we were soul brothers. We had a classmate named Jack, who was a real good friend of Mike’s, and we met up with him too.
We went around to the various booths and tables. It was always cool to grab the literature that was on each table. Some company would be offering free plastic bags, so we’d grab one and start collecting pamphlets and brochures. I always looked for stickers I could put on this dresser back on the farm. Mike was going to put his all in a binder and give it to his dad for Christmas
Mike and I had agreed to meet our parents at around 8 p.m. or so, because it was a school night We wandered around together until Mike had to go meet his parents. Mine were staying for awhile, so I would meet up with them and go for some fries and gravy at the cafeteria. Jack said he wasn’t sure how he was going to find his dad because they hadn’t set up a time or place, but we had to go.
I met up with my Mom. About 10 minutes later, I heard over the loudspeaker “Jake Braat, your son is waiting for you at information.”
I had to laugh.
Field trip
Ag-Expo was also a field trip our class took a few times during elementary school. Given Lethbridge was 15 minutes from Coaldale, if that, a school bus would take us to the Pavilion for the morning and part of the afternoon.
Ag-Expo was also a field trip our class took a few times during elementary school. Given Lethbridge was 15 minutes from Coaldale, if that, a school bus would take us to the Pavilion for the morning and part of the afternoon.
It was different going with my classmates, because they were much more footloose and fancy free. The boys would climb on the tractors and combines, and run around. I never did that with adults. I never climbed on farm machinery either because, unlike all the town kids, I did that at home all the time.
What I do recall more than anything, was that in some grades we had a scrapbook project. We pasted in things we got from our field trips and wrote about them. That may have been my first foray into journalism.
Parting thoughts
Ag-Expo was one of the few things we did every year when I was growing up. It was a chance to get off the farm and be among people and civilization. It was also really interesting because there was so much going on, and I so looked forward to fries and gravy.
Ag-Expo was one of the few things we did every year when I was growing up. It was a chance to get off the farm and be among people and civilization. It was also really interesting because there was so much going on, and I so looked forward to fries and gravy.
Since then, I have gone to dozens of trade fairs and expos. My favourite is the annual pilgrimage my spouse and I make to Calgary Expo, or Comicon, where it is filled with booths with comic books, collectibles, books, art, and so much more.
Every time I go to Comicon, or the trade fair and Fair Days bench show in Claresholm, it reminds me of Ag-Expo.
After all it was my first expo.
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