Grainswest - Fall 2026

Fall 2026 grainswest.com 41 Canada and equipment engineered for hillsides steeper than those on Canadian farms. Though they may encounter solutions to problems they didn’t know existed and may not directly apply the innovations and revelations they encounter, the agronomic problem solving on display illuminates new possibilities and appeals to their natural curiosity. The fair attracts more than 450,000 visitors every second year. It’s so popular, hotels within a 300-kilometre radius are booked a year in advance. The 2025 event saw thousands of farmers swarm the Hannover Exhibition Grounds at 9 a.m. each morning for seven days in November, a throng of caps and work jackets. At its best, agritourism is an exchange. In Hall 12, surrounded by Brazilian, German and Italian machinery displays, a bright red carpet delineated Canadian territory. More than 30 Prairie companies were present, including Bourgault, Degelman, Duck Foot Parts, Honey Bee, Redekop and Thunderstruck. Many of them exhibited in the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership’s (STEP) 1,500-square-metre kiosk. In the evenings, the pavilion hosted receptions where Canadians met current and prospective customers over Bloody Caesars in plastic cups. For the duration of the show, the STEP pavilion became the unofficial Canadian farm embassy. EDUCATION ABROAD Agritourism is inherently educational. A group of students from Olds College got their first overwhelming glimpse of global agriculture at Agritechnica. Dustin Farr, an instructor in the institution’s agricultural management and precision agriculture department was equally amazed on his first visit in 2023. “I thought I knew a lot about global agriculture, and then I came here,” he said. “It just blew my mind. I know nothing.” When he got home, Farr advised the institution’s dean, Jay Steeves, that students ought to attend the event. Steeves agreed, and a group of 33 students from agriculture technology, business and mechanical programs eventually made the trip. “We get so locked into our own little world,” said Steeves, who emphasized the high value of such travel experiences. Gareth Meagher (left) and Cash Arntsen were among a group of Olds College students to visit Agritechnica. Both were impressed with its scale and variety. Photo by Melanie Epp.