A flip in schedule served this writer perfectly, attending the 107th Grey Cup celebration in Calgary and coming home to Canadian Western Agribition. Having been away from Agribition for a few years, it was an energizing ten days. A magical mixture of two things I can get excited about. Football and agriculture, oh and the PEOPLE that make these industries tick.
Flying out early Friday morning and returning Monday from Grey Cup, seemed to take away from some extra time generally, used for shopping or to socialize. This abbreviated move also saved money! Coming home and right back to getting up at the ungodly hour of 3 am instead of going to bed at 3 am was a bit of a stretch! But it did bring back some memories of Agribition of the late 80’s or 90’s. Lucky no one had cell phones because those pictures and text messages would have been .. ugly!
“Eventing” is so much fun. Non-stop quick chats with people you potentially see or chat with once a year. You catch up and move on. There is a quick reflection, some great stories, a chance to meet someone new to you and then you are off somewhere else. Chances are your path will cross somewhere over the next number of days. At Grey Cup I ran into football fans that wondered if I had indeed brought $620 to give away – Lucky Seat Contest, thanks for the nod! There were the folks that I had met while holding the Roughrider flag on field, during the Western Final. Friends I had worked with or gone to school with, former Roughriders and clients and listeners all in Grey Cup Festival mode.
And Agribition, what can you say about the energy that comes onto Evraz Place from one side of the buildings to the other. CN Rail celebrated their 100th anniversary with sweeping displays in rail cars. There were things for people to buy or try. What can you say about loading up bags with pamphlets, pens, notepads and loot! From home based businesses to once a year shopping experiences there were lots of things to look at, touch and try out or on.
Children experiencing agriculture for the first time is a treat to watch. Kids with kids in Goat Yoga, or helping a cow model have a calf. The eyes widened as children got up close and personal to chicks hatching out or cows being milked. From sheep to alpaca to beef and horses, kids were able to be hands on. What a field trip! But learning is not just for the young. spending time with a few folks, I learned a few things too. Genetics in the livestock industry is fascinating stuff. And small ideas that blossom into something big are exciting.
Next year Grey Cup will be held in Regina, it will celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the Roughriders, also Canadian Western Agribition will celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Save up your energy, because November is going to hold two remarkable celebrations right here in Regina.