Agri-Trade Equipment Expo one of the best in recent memory, says show manager
RED DEER ADVOCATE
This year’s Agri-Trade Equipment Expo was one of the most well-received editions of the event in recent memory, says the show’s manager.
“I think this is one of the better ones I’ve been involved in – I started working with the show in 2016,” David Fiddler said following the annual three-day event.
“We received really good feedback from our exhibitors in terms of sales activity and the quantity of people that attended. The weather was perfect as well.”
From Nov. 8-10, an estimated 30,000-plus attendees filled Westerner Park’s facilities for the Agri-Trade Equipment Expo, which featured about 500 exhibitors. Agri-Trade is a joint venture of the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce and Westerner Park, and generates an estimated $300 million annually in equipment sales and tourism spending.
Fiddler said the German pavilion, which has now been present for the past two Agri-Trade Equipment Expos, was a big hit.
“It was just packed. They had people in their booths all of the time. They hardly had a chance to rest,” Fiddler said, adding there was also an international presence among attendees.
“We had visitors from 14 countries tour the show on Thursday, (Nov. 10). We got great feedback from them. I can’t remember where they were all from, but I know there were people from Brazil, England, Nigeria, India.”
Fiddler said he expects Agri-Trade’s international profile to organically increase in coming years.
“I certainly know European manufacturers are eying North America as a market opportunity,” he said.
The farming economy is “pretty strong right now,” which benefits Agri-Trade, Fiddler noted.
“Interest rates will have some impact on that, but right now commodity prices are high, cattle prices are record highs. There are all sorts of good things in the industry right now,” said Fiddler.
Planning is already underway for the 2024 Agri-Trade Equipment Expo. That event will mark 40 years since the first-ever edition of the expo in 1984.
“We’ve got some idea. Maybe we’ll have a concert, maybe we’ll have a book. We’ve got sorts of ideas in the tube – we’ll have to put them in a bag, shake the bag and see what falls out,” said Fiddler.
“We couldn’t do Agri-Trade without our sponsors, our exhibitors, the public, our volunteers and staff. It was a wonderful effort that makes it a great show.”
For more information, visit www.agri-trade.com.
