Grain Millers harvest showdown fills up Yorkton

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The weekend of November 9-11 will really test Yorkton’s capacity. The 18th annual Harvest Showdown – sponsored this year by Grain Millers Canada – is on at the same time that the city will be hosting the World Junior “A” Hockey Challenge.

Don Kunkel with the Yorkton Exhibition Association says they’re up for the challenge. “It’s quite a unique thing to have these events on at the same time,” he said. “We had to give up our rodeo, but the weekend we’ll have should more than make up for that.”

Although hockey players will take the place of ropers and riders in the arena, the other agricultural events taking place elsewhere on the exhibition grounds are front and centre at this year’s Harvest Showdown. Events include the Futurity Heifer and Pen of Bulls Shows; the auctioneer competition; stock dog competitions; and the largest grain and forage show in western Canada.

“The grain and forage show is one of the biggest parts of our event, and I think that’s a large part of why Grain Millers came on as our title sponsor,” said Kunkel. “It takes up the whole lobby of the Gallagher Centre, which if you’ve been here to see after our renovations, is quite a lot of area.”

If livestock is what you need to see, Kunkel says the sheep show is very strong this year, and the commercial cattle show is getting bigger, as well. There are also expanded education forums throughout the event, including presentations by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and animal health professionals.

Another favourite, returning portion of the Harvest Showdown is the trade show, household arts competition and rodeo fashion show.

Admission to the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown is free, which gives you access to the livestock and grain shows, the competitions and the trade show. Entertainment events running each night from Wednesday, November 8 to Saturday, November 11 will charge a ticket fee. Tyler Lewis, Saskatchewan’s own Canadian Idol favourite, will perform on Thursday, November 9.

Kunkel says in a normal year, about 12,000 to 15,000 people come through the doors at the Harvest Showdown, but with the hockey on as well, they are anticipating up to 20,000 people to go through the site over the three days.

As a result, Kunkel noted that accommodations in Yorkton are also going quickly. “Book early, that’s all I can say!”

For more information, contact:

Don Kunkel
Yorkton Exhibition Association
Phone: (306) 783-4800
Website: www.gallaghercentre.ca
Week of November 6, 2006