We Mean Business - Red Deer Chamber of Commerce

farmandacreage
There was plenty to see and do at the Farm & Acreage Show in March. In addition to seminars on solar energy, a showcase of RVs by
Lacombe RV and a toy show, there were exhibits from all across the leisure and rural living spectrum.
This November, Agri-Trade will, for the 26th year, deliver a
world-class exposition to participants. Space went quickly
for the popular show with indoor space filled shortly after
registration officially opened. Outdoor space has sold quickly,
promising a very successful show and demonstrating that the
economic downturn hasn’t impacted the marketing of the ag
industry, as it has many other sectors.
Agri-Trade is on pace to set new records for exhibitors and has
the potential to attract more attendees than past shows as
well.
This year’s Agri-Trade follows an extremely successful 25th
Anniversary show with more than 30 charter exhibitors –
companies that had exhibited at every show since Agri-Trade’s
debut in 1984. That figure is almost a quarter of the exhibitors
from the original show.
In March, blizzard conditions chilled the attendance at the
Farm & Acreage Show, part of the Red Deer Home & Garden
Show. It was the second year for that event and while raw
numbers were down, several exhibitors commented that they
believed the contacts they made were of a higher quality.
One of the show’s highlights was a series of sessions by Sundog
Solar, demonstrating solar energy solutions. The sessions drew
significant participants and very few left before the end of the
presentation.
In May, the North American Farm Show Council held its annual
general meeting in Red Deer, attracting members from New
York Farm Show, Canada’s Outdoor Show (Ontario), Ag Progress
Days (Pennsylvania), Power Show Ohio, Western Farm Show
(Missouri), International Plowing Match (Ontario), Spokane Ag
Expo (Washington), Midwest Ag Expo (Illinois), Farm Science
Review (Ohio), as well as Agri-Trade.
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Attendees toured the Westerner Park facilities and enjoyed an
evening reception there, before digging into a busy agenda
with meetings at the Capri Centre the next day. The three day
conference included a presentation on Ag Innovation Awards
by David Kaun that aroused interest among delegates.
Capture Technologies of Towota, New Jersey revealed some
amazing and cost efficient technology on bar coding and
qualifying attendees. Christopher Havens, Chief Technology
Officer and Stephen McWilliams, Vice President of Sales
showed how attendees can be VIPed at any show using bar
code information established prior to a show or event.
Basically, they take information supplied to them by the event
and using a system of sophisticated bar code applications,
classify and identify the attendee at the event. When he
or she enters the facility they simply use a pre-issued ID
badge at any participating exhibitor location to register to
receive information, machinery quotes or service and parts
information. The demographic information established in this
manner becomes a very powerful marketing tool for event
managers promoting certain unique qualities of the event
that will appeal to a certain type of exhibitor.
The following day, delegates traveled to the Reynolds
Alberta Museum and were duly impressed with the quality
of the displays and the colourful depiction of the heritage
of agriculture. Following the tour, the delegates enjoyed an
evening reception at the Capri Centre, hosted by Agri-Trade.
The conference wrapped up May 21, with a discussion of
membership issues and the naming of future NAFSC AGM
sites, in Austin, Texas next year, followed by Charlotte, North
Carolina and Spokane, Washington.
T A K I N G C A R E O F B U S I N E S S T O G E T H E R