Olds College will play host to the FutureFarm Canada Expo 2017 in July, with organizers hoping the first-time event will become an annual gathering to highlight the many sides to agriculture, say officials.
Scheduled to run from July 6 – 8, the Expo will focus on “scientific advancements and innovations needed for tomorrow's agriculture businesses and for future farm generations,” says Tanya McDonald, vice-president of advancement at the college.
“We are very excited,” McDonald told the Gazette. “This event is intended to be a grand showcase of agriculture in an indoor and outdoor expo event.
“We are highlighting technology and innovation in agriculture and we are celebrating food and beverage and value-adding opportunities in agriculture. We want to celebrate western Canadian agriculture. “We are certainly hoping that we are going to draw a large number of sponsors, exhibitors as well as attendees from our local area.”
Exhibits at the Expo will “focus on Canada's unique agricultural landscape and feature international companies demonstrating the most innovative products and services in the industry,” she said.
“This show has come about as a result of the fast changing nature of agriculture as it adjusts to production, profitability and environmental changes.”
Event attendees will “network, meet industry experts, enjoy on-site demonstrations and have the opportunity to participate in on-site courses offered by the college,” she said.
The 2017 expo will take many of the lessons learned during the 2013 World Plowing Championships held at Olds College, she said.
“I think the land availability and access for people worked very well in the way it was done at those championships, so we want to build on that and the knowledge that we developed in hosting that event and make this even better than ever.”
There will be students participating throughout the Expo, she said.
“We would like to have students engaged in many aspects, whether they are agriculture students, animal health students or hospitality and tourism students,” she said.
“We see that there is a fit for almost every program we offer here.”
The college is partnering with dmg events (Canada) Inc. to put on the Expo.
“We are excited to utilize our unmatched market reach to bring this unique event to Western Canada,” dmg executive vice- president Wes Scott said in a press release.
More information on the expo can be found at FutureFarmExpo.com.
Work on planning and organizing the Expo is now underway, she says.
“We are in the very early days of developing exhibitors and sponsors and partners in this,” said McDonald. “We are very eager to create some excitement and interest.”
Organizers “would like to see this become an annual event” at the college, she said. “We are very excited about the potential here and celebrating that whole field to fork aspect,” she said.
“Olds College has a unique ability to showcase everything, right from the field or the greenhouse right through to the consumer and the food experience.
“We see this as something we would love to host year after year here at Olds College and really help people celebrate agriculture, know where their food comes from and be able to engage in some unique educational opportunities and see new technology for smart agriculture.”
"This event is intended to be a grand showcase of agriculture in an indoor and outdoor expo event."Tanya McDonaldOlds College
