The 2014 edition of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) welcomed 42,800 attendees earlier this month. Among the more than 42,000 were not one but both ministers of agriculture!
On Tuesday September 9, opening day, COFS president Doug Wagner shared the Opening Ceremonies stage with the Honourable Jeff Leal who is the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Minister Leal and Wagner were also joined by new University of Guelph president Dr. Franco Vaccarino to kick off the show’s opening day.
L to R: Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal, Dr. Franco Vaccarino and Doug Wagner.
A short 24 hours later, Wagner and the COFS team had the pleasure of welcoming the Honourable Gerry Ritz to the show. On Wednesday September 10, federal Agriculture Minister Ritz and MP Dave MacKenzie announced $1.6 million in support of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association. The funding will help Canadian dairy and small ruminant genetics reach foreign markets growing the export potential.
L to R: MP Dave MacKenzie, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Doug Wagner.
“We are very pleased with this year’s event,” says Doug Wagner, President of COFS. “It was an honour to host so many delegations of Canadian and international guests to our show. Our team is excited that our exhibitors and their collective efforts continue to reach new heights which is indicated by the visitors we had this year.”
Efforts are already underway to begin planning for next year’s event. Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show will return to Woodstock, ON on September 15, 16 and 17, 2015. Until then, the team will be working diligently to ensure the demonstrations and products draw strong crowds of progressive farmers once again.
Source: Outdoor Farm Show