After 36 years of farming the family operation in Oil Springs, Ont., Marcel and Laurie Lassaline continue to make the annual journey to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, a trip they say helps them stay connected with both industry innovation and the larger farm community.
“We go to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show to see what is new in the industry as well as the demonstrations that the different exhibitors do,” Laurie Lassaline says.
Held each September in Woodstock, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show offers visitors the opportunity to walk through hundreds of acres of live demonstrations, over 600 equipment displays and agronomic trials. For the Lassalines, it is a must-attend event.
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Among their first stops each year are the exhibitor crop plots, where major seed companies showcase side-by-side comparisons of soybean and wheat varieties grown under southern Ontario conditions. “We make a point of visiting the different seed companies’ exhibitors,” says Laurie. “We like the demos they do and the information that is available to pick up in the booths. We also make a point of going to equipment exhibitors. We like to see what is new with the tractors and combines.”
For first-time visitors, Laurie recommends planning the day in advance. “It has gotten larger, so much that it is hard to walk the whole show anymore without taking breaks. I would recommend visitors to plan on walking a lot! Wear good supporting shoes!”.
Despite the size of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, the Lassalines make time to visit as many exhibits as they can. Visitors can also plan ahead with the show’s mobile app, perfect for navigating the grounds and making the most of your visit.
The family’s life in agriculture hasn’t been without its challenges. Laurie has been farming on her husband’s family farm for 36 years and continues to operate the family farm with care and commitment.
“I’ve been around agriculture my whole life. I was raised on a farm, and I married a farmer. It is a hard life in a lot of ways… It is stressful and we lose sleep many a night. It is good with respect that you are your own boss but then you are also responsible for all the decisions being made. It is a good life overall.”
At its core, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show organizers and exhibitors appreciate the joys and the pressures of farm life and works to create the opportunity for farmers to connect with a community facing the same things that they are.
At the end of the day, Ontario’s largest outdoor farm show continues to be a valuable tradition and a destination where farmers of all generations can learn, connect and celebrate the life they’ve built on the land.
For more coverage of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2025, see our landing page.
