THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012
VOL. 90 | NO. 46 | $4.25
A fresh
start | An old school SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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Isabelle Schmidt of Ardrossan, Alta., leads a group of Shorthorn cattle from the show barn at Farmfair International across the race track to the tie-out stalls for the evening. The cattle are in the stalls during the day and tied in the outside horse barns at night. | MARY MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Exhibitors like Farmfair exposure Opportunity for breeders | Annual event draws international attention and promotes industry BY MARY MACARTHUR CAMROSE BUREAU
EDMONTON — It’s a long way from Quesnel, B.C., to Edmonton, but for Rob Swann and his daughter, Erin Kishkan, it’s an important venue for purebred breeders. “It’s exposure to other breeders and cattle producers,” said Swann, who t r a v e l s t o C a n a d i a n We s t e r n Agribition in Regina and to shows across British Columbia to promote his Limousin cattle, but makes an effort to attend Farmfair International, a five-day cattle show in Edmonton. “It is the best way to get your name recognized, especially within the purebred industry,” said Kishkan. “Besides the ribbons and banners, we’ve made lifelong friends and had opportunities to show our genetics and sell to other breeders all over Canada and North America,” she said.
It’s all hands on deck for cattle exhibitors at Farmfair International. The decision to bring nine animals to Farmfair is not made lightly by exhibitors, but it is an important marketing tool.
“It takes a lot of manpower, a lot of time and a lot of supplies,” said Kishkan, but cattle sales are made at the events. In recent years their Pinnacle
View Limousin farm has sold embryos to China and semen to Australia. Farmfair staff has also made an effort to make exhibitors feel welcome. This year, the event has added slip proof mats between stalls to improve cattle footing and organizers have promoted a welcoming atmosphere with free morning coffee and hot chocolate and an exhibitor reception. For Layne Pickett of Ardrossan, just outside Edmonton, Farmfair is an international show close to home. “For us locally, it’s fairly important,” said Pickett, who brought six Speckle Park animals to show. “It’s costly, but it’s a valuable tool for promotion.” The relatively small number of cattle in the Speckle Park breed makes it difficult to find enough numbers to host a show. SEE FARMFAIR, PAGE 2
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