Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association’s (SARDA) agricultural trade show will be back in Falher the weekend of March 19-21. The Smoky River Agricultural Trade Show is held every two years in Falher. This year the booths will be held strictly at the Falher Regional Recreation Complex, which organizer Roch Bremont says will better cater to both exhibitors and spectators. “We are planning a new and exciting trade show for 2009,” says Bremont, who has been helping to plan the event for 28 years. “We only have 10 more booths available for the trade show, which will feature some amazing exhibits this year.” Bremont explains there will be a total of 150 booths inside the building, with others available for exhibition outside. The number of booths at the complex will be equivalent to years past at both the Chevaliers Centre and the Memorial Arena (the complex replaced by the new Falher Regional Recreation Complex). “The booths have been selling quite rapidly and there are very few booths left inside the recreation complex,” says Bremont. “If exhibitors want the chance to have a booth at this year’s show, they are going to have to hurry to book.” A number of exhibitors have been contracted from outside of the region. There are prospective exhibitors coming from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and as far as Ontario. Bremont says the event will be a great chance to see the new farming and home items available on the market. He explains there is a diversified group of exhibitors who book for the trade show, who will have booths that will interest every age group and interest range. The event will kick off on Thursday, March 19 with the beginning of exhibitions from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. That evening there will be a social event for exhibitors only. Early Friday morning, the exhibition will kick-off at 10 a.m. Booths will open for spectators until 7 p.m. In addition to the trade show, Bremont has booked Hey Romeo, a CCMA award-winning group for top new band of the year fin 2008, from Edmonton. They were also nominated for 2008 rising star award. Hey Romeo is under the direction of Stacie Roper (vocals), Rob Shapiro (keyboards) and Darren Gusnowsky (guitarist). They are proclaimed as one of Canada’s busiest touring bands. The country trio released its debut single “Wrap These Around You” in 2005 under their former band name, Udder Maddness. The name of the band changed to Hey Romeo, but their intensity and group dynamic has stayed much the same, with the band playing over 700 shows throughout Canada since 2002. The band has opened shows for such diverse acts as Sugarland, Chely Wright, the Corb Lund Band, Emerson Drive, the Road Hammers, The Trews and Blue Rodeo. More information about the band and a sample of their music can be found at www.heyromeo.com . Tickets will be sold for $60 per ticket, and can be purchased through Bremont at the SARDA office. Tickets will also be available in upcoming months in various community stores throughout the Smoky River Region. Event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by a barbecue steak supper at 7 p.m., and the Hey Romeo concert. Only 400 tickets are available for the night. Saturday morning’s schedule begins at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the recreation complex. It’s followed by the wrap up of the trade show, with exhibitions displayed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We are still looking for bronze, silver, and gold sponsors,” says Bremont. “Currently, we have three gold sponsors; Triple G Trucking, Smoky Seed Company, and Viterra.” Children’s entertainment will be available throughout the weekend at the Mencke-Nicolet Log Cabin across from the recreation complex. “We have not yet booked the entertainment for the children, but we are looking at magic shows, petting zoos and different games,” says Bremont. “We are trying to find something exciting for the children to do during the trade show.” In addition, there will be farm safety seminars available for those interested at the log cabin. SARDA is currently looking to book seminars on farm input costs and global positioning systems. Trade show hours from March 19-21 are as follows; Thursday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. To 5 p.m. If you would like to rent a booth, sponsor the event, buy tickets to Hey Romeo, or need further information phone Roch at 780-837-2900.