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Farmfair International Changes Drive Attendance Up

November 17, 2005

Edmonton, AB. --- A new direction, fresh programming and added sponsorship helped elevate Farmfair International at Northlands Park in Edmonton into an entirely new level of success in 2005.

Attendance estimates for the 10-day event are pegged at 90,000, about 10,000 more than 2004’s banner year. Admission to Farmfair International is free, so officials base their crowd estimates upon increases in food sales, raffle ticket sales and parking numbers.

“I’d say the dramatically increased prize packaging had a big impact this year for the cattle shows. Cattle entries were up about 20 per cent in 2005 compared to the year before,” says Leah Jones, Northlands Park director responsible for agriculture. “It was standing room only at many of the five cattle shows on the UFA Super Saturday, where more than $140,000 worth of prizes was awarded - including two Dodge trucks.”

Even as Farmfair International wraps up for another year, Jones says there are still more prizes up for grabs. Northlands Park is sponsoring $40,000 in additional prize money for the Supreme Champion winners at Farmfair International. “Chub's Jezabell 5N” from Lundago Livestock in Olds, Alberta took home the Supreme Champion Female prize and a Dodge Ram truck, and “Justamere 1118 Cash” from Justamere Farms in Lloydminster won a new Dodge Ram truck as the Supreme Champion Male. If both animals go on to win the grand champion prize at Regina’s Agribition later this month, each owner will receive a $20,000 bonus prize. If only one animal wins, the prize for that owner will be $10,000.

“Northlands Park, as the producer of Farmfair International, is a major player in the cattle industry across Canada. It’s great to have a prize that rewards winners from our show for their success at other shows. We’re all connected,” says Jones.

Jones says programming additions that included five new horse events, eight seminars and a farmers market, also contributed to the overall success of Farmfair International 2005.

“For the entire 10 days of Farmfair International, there were large crowds here at Northlands Park. Our new focus on equine events was a big hit this year. For example, an estimated 5,500 people took in the action at the first-ever Heritage Invitational Ranch Rodeo and we saw a lot of interest in the International Horseshoeing Competition” says Jones. “Horse events are a natural fit for our cattle ranchers and they were excited to be part of our big prize shows and informational seminars. This year’s crowd shows we struck the right chord with our visitors.”

For more information and show results, click on farmfairinternational.com.

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