Grab a pitchfork

Agriculture has changed dramatically over the years, but showing purebred cattle is the same hard work it’s always been. When Canadian Western Agribition got rolling back in the 70s, the work for purebred cattle exhibitors was much the same as it is now. Pitchforks, small square bales, blow driers, wash racks, everything done by hand. Cattle identification has been modernized, but otherwise the barns at Agribition operate much the same as they did 30 to 40 years ago. Some of the cattle breeds have changed over the years. In many cases, the breeds are less distinctive. For instance, you used to be able to pick out a Simmental with ease, but now you need a sharper eye. There are fewer cattle producers in Western Canada and the economics are tough for commercial cattle producers. However, Agribition’s purebred cattle numbers remain amazingly strong. Breeders may have cut out other livestock shows to save money, but Agribition is considered a necessary part of the marketing effort for a large number of producers, even though it involves long hours and a great deal of manual labour. I’m Kevin Hursh.