Emily Plihal
Smoky River Express
This weekend will bring a number of interesting and educational booths to Falher Regional Recreation Centre via the Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association (SARDA) agricultural trade show.
Kicking off tomorrow with exhibits at the rec complex, the trade show will be fresh and new after a two-year-hiatus.
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, as opposed to having the exhibits spread out at two different locations like in 2007.
Organizer Roch Bremont says this will better cater to both exhibitors and spectators, allowing all to enjoy the wealth of opportunities at this year’s trade show.
“We have planned a new and exciting trade show for 2009,” says Bremont, who has been helping to plan the event for over 20 years. “We have rented out many booths both in the recreation complex and outside on the ground surrounding the complex.”
Bremont explains there will be a total of 150 booths inside the building, with others available for rent 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).
Some of the highlighted exhibits include Douglas Lake Equipment ( bringing a new type of sprayer), Cleardale Colony (building sheds and cabins), and from Spokane, Washington, Exactrix Global Systems. Key Ag Ventures will also be coming from Red Deer.
“The booths sold quite rapidly we have a variety of booths to meet each interest groups,” says Bremont. “The booths inside the complex sold extremely quickly this year, and we are excited to see people’s reactions to the exhibits.”
A number of exhibitors have been contracted from outside of the region. There are 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 every second year, who will have booths that will interest every age group and interest range.
The event will kick off on Thursday, Mar. 19 with the beginning of exhibitions from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tomorrow evening there will be a social event for exhibitors only.
Early Friday morning, the exhibition will kick-off at 10 a.m. The 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 for 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 to be 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, and has since played over 700 shows throughout Canada since 2002.
Tickets will be sold for $60 per ticket, and can be purchased through Bremont at the SARDA office.
Tickets are also 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 a concert by Hey Rodeo. Only 400 tickets are available for the night.
Saturday morning will start at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the recreation complex.
It will follow with 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 are as follows; Thursday 12 p.m. – 7p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 7p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5p.m.
“This should be one of the best and biggest exhibits in SARDA trade show history.”
A shuttle services will be available from parking areas to rec complex and Chevaliers Centre.
If you need further information phone Roch at 780-837-2900.
