OLDS — AgSmart, Olds College’s annual outdoor agricultural display and innovation expo, is now under the umbrella of the Red Deer-based the Agri-Trade Equipment Expo group.
The college, formally known as the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, made that announcement in a news release issued Wednesday.
The Sept. 25 news release says this “strategic move” comes after a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Olds College and Agri-Trade was signed earlier this month.
The fifth edition of AgSmart was held on the Olds College campus at the beginning of August.
The first AgSmart event under Agri-Trade’s management will be held on July 29 and 30, 2025 at Olds College.
Under the deal, Red Deer-based Agri-Trade Equipment Expo will take over the management and ownership of the event.
The news release says this will enhance AgSmart's scope while maintaining its educational focus.
“As owners of the Agri-Trade Equipment Expo, Westerner Park and the Red Deer District Chamber are excited about the opportunity to grow AgSmart by leveraging the strength of our Agri-Trade brand and associated expertise,” Shelly Flint, chief executive officer (CEO) of Westerner Park in Red Deer, and Scott Robinson, CEO of the Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce said in a prepared statement.
“This innovative show aligns perfectly with our goals of supporting the agricultural community in central Alberta and beyond.
“We're happy to participate with Olds College in addressing the growing demand for in-field hands-on agricultural innovation and educational programming."
According to the agreement:
• Agri-Trade will assume full ownership of AgSmart, including its brand, digital assets and historical content.
• AgSmart will continue to take place at Olds College, ensuring ongoing collaboration with the College’s Smart Farm and applied research initiatives.
• Olds College will contribute educational content, research and demonstrations to future AgSmart events, strengthening its role as a key partner in the event’s growth.
• Agri-Trade’s involvement will bolster AgSmart’s reach, ensuring a broader impact on the agricultural community by combining the educational focus of AgSmart with Agri-Trade’s extensive industry expertise.
"Olds College has been proud to create and host AgSmart for the past five years, and we believe that this transition will provide even greater opportunities for innovation and learning within the agriculture sector,” Todd Ormann, Olds College’s vice-president of development said in a prepared statement. “With Agri-Trade’s leadership, AgSmart will continue to thrive as a platform for technological advancements and education."
“Agri-Trade Equipment Expo, one of Canada's premier farm equipment shows, annually attracts more than 30,000 attendees and 550 exhibitors,” the news release says.
“AgSmart, now under Agri-Trade’s management, will complement its fall equipment show with an educational exhibition in the summer, creating a year-round agricultural experience in central Alberta.”
