OLDS — At the end of July, organizers of AgSmart, Olds College’s outdoor agriculture innovation and practices show, will be celebrating a milestone.
It’s the fifth straight year for the show, housed on the college’s campus.
Officially, AgSmart takes place July 30-31. However, a couple of special events will be held the day before, on July 29.
For example, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that day, a Discovery Lab pitch event will be held.
Companies will be able to pitch their ideas on how to launch, grow or scale up various ideas/ag-related businesses.
Investors and advisors can register to hear and provide feedback on these plans as well as learn about the latest innovations.
Chosen applicants will be able to make 10-minute pitches. All exhibitors will have an opportunity to apply to pitch at no charge.
“It’s sort of like a little bit of a Dragon’s Den where companies are explaining about their companies that are in start-up mode and there are a bunch of investors in the audience,” event co-manager Stacy Felkar said during an interview with the Albertan.
“You don't see the transaction part, though. I think it's kind of where the difference would be.”
Also on July 29, AgSmart will host a special screening of Farms of the Future: The Evolution of Agriculture, created by Red Deer filmmaker, actor and director Tyler Duffy.
The show, presented by BASF and Richardson Pioneer, outlines how agricultural technology has changed over the decades and how those changes have helped farmers’ operations become more efficient, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly.
Felkar says proceeds are going to an Olds College student bursary.
There’ll be lots to see and do during AgSmart.
It will feature more than 100 interactive exhibits.
There’ll be live demonstrations, including drones and field-scale equipment demonstrations.
More than 40 educational sessions will be held.
Tours of the college’s Smart Farm will be held on July 30 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., as well as on July 31 at 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Those interested in going on those tours are asked to meet at the bus near the Olds College tent. Limited space is available.
On July 31, AgSmart will be hosting an Alberta Crop Diagnostics Day.
Held in cooperation with Alberta Grains, the Alberta Pulse Growers, and Alberta Canola, it will feature a variety of plots showcasing pulse, grains, and canola.
Felkar says companies from as far away as Australia are coming to AgSmart.
She says while the number of exhibitors is expected to be roughly on par with last year, but they’ll be different too.
“It's interesting because there's a lot of new players and stakeholders in the industry that you see coming online, so it constantly changes,” Felkar said.
“Even though it's a similar number, it's not necessarily a similar group of organizations that are exhibiting.”
There will also be demonstrations of the latest high-tech ag technology, including new drones.
One of the demonstrations that’s caught Felkar’s eye is a combine with massive header on it.
She says AgSmart will go on, rain or shine.
“Actually, our very first year of AgSmart, we had a very damp the whole month of July even and it was amazing how much of that ground was still solid,” Felkar said.
Organizers aren’t expecting to receive that much rain during their event this year, she said.
“We're crossing our fingers,” she said.
