The 2023 OPC executive. From left to right: Joe Dwyer (secretary), Victoria Stewart (director), Kristy Perrin (first vice-president), and Kirk McLean (president). Absent: Marsha Chambers, Frank Wood, Drew DeBruyn and Henry Groenestege.

Ontario Pork Congress returns in-person this June

Congress will celebrate its 50th anniversary

The Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) will be returning to the Rotary Complex in Stratford to celebrate its 50th anniversary June 21-22, 2023.  It will be the first in-person Congress since 2019. A 2020 virtual option was held, but show organizers said that “didn’t go well” at the OPC’s annual meeting last month at the Mitchell […] Read more

Farmers gather to talk to exhibitors at the 2019 Chatham-Kent Farm Show.

Chatham Kent Farm Show returns with speakers and ethanol tour

2023 marks first live show in two years

After a two-year pandemic interruption, the Chatham Kent Farm Show is back at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.  “I’m very excited. I’m beyond ecstatic,” said Courtney Brochu, owner of OP Show Productions. Brochu was a bookkeeper for Stuart Galloway, owner of 20/20 Show Productions, who launched the event in 2014 to highlight southwestern Ontario […] Read more

PHOTOS: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person

PHOTOS: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair returns to in-person

Event celebrated a century of bringing agriculture to the city

After a 2-year hiatus, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) took place Nov. 3 to 14 at Exhibition Place in Toronto.  The RAWF began in 1922 when a collective group of farmers and horseman banded together to plan an exhibition to show off what Canada had to offer in agriculture.  According to historical documents on […] Read more

Doug Wagner co-founded Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in 1994 and was instrumental in the growth of the show. He retired Oct. 31.

COFS co-founder Doug Wagner retires

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show president was also instrumental in launching western Canada’s Ag in Motion

It may have seemed like a conventional progression as Doug Wagner worked his way through a career in promoting agricultural innovation but, as he prepared to retire on Oct. 31, he was struck by comments from one colleague who pointed out how unconventional it actually is. After moving from a post-University of Guelph job with […] Read more

Screengrab of turkeys on display at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, from a 2017 promotional video. (CWA video screengrab via YouTube)

Saskatchewan, Ontario ban birds at events

Bans back on as fall migratory season underway, avian flu cases stack up

At least two provinces now have bans in place on birds being brought to fall ag fairs and other such events, as cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza pick up again in Canada’s domestic birds. Ontario — which had such a ban in place this spring — reinstated it effective Sept. 23 through to Oct. […] Read more


Editorial: There is nothing better than meeting in-person

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show made a triumphant in-person comeback for the first time since 2019 last month.  A total of 43,809 visitors came to Discovery Farm Woodstock Sept. 13-15, the home of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS).  What struck me the most at the recent Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show was the smiles. They were infectious. […] Read more

Youth 4-H shows are an important part of rural fairs, including this show at Western Fair.

Agricultural societies diversify to support agriculture

Fair boards adopt new strategies to maintain stability and growth

Diversified revenue-generating activities are a trend among Ontario agricultural societies.  Some were trying new strategies before the pandemic but lack of in-person events for nearly two years brought the trend to the forefront.  “The pandemic prompted many societies to ask themselves what they can do besides hold a fair,” says Vince Brennan, general manager of […] Read more

The extensive crop plots are a popular destination at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.

Plots to see at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

There will be lots of plots for farmers to see when Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show returns in September. Fifteen different companies and organizations have crops growing on the show site, ranging from corn, soybeans and wheat to alfalfa, alternative crops and demonstrations of numerous crop treatments including strip tillage. The crop plots are a popular […] Read more


Outdoor Farm Show grows in scale and scope

Premises now comprised of 330 acres, new facilities and research plots

It’s been three years since the last full-scale, in-person Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. This year it returns to alleviate pent-up attendee demand with a greater land base, new elements and more industry support. Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show will be held Sept. 13-15 at Discovery Farm Woodstock. [READ MORE] See it all first-hand at COFS Purchasing […] Read more

Field demonstrations are a popular destination at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, where farmers can compare equipment side by side.

See it all first hand at COFS

In-person demonstrations are a hallmark of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show and many return for 2022

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show is the place where agriculture equipment and technology come alive, providing an unparalleled ability to watch demonstrations and try out items that can be useful on the farm. In 2022, there will be several new demonstrations to see and experience. The skid steer ride-and-drive is returning to the show after several […] Read more