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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2018
Cowichan Valley showcases Islands agriculture Annual show exposes1,600 visitors to the changing face of agriculture
by TOM WALKER DUNCAN – BC’s second-
largest agriculture show was held at Cowichan Exhibition Park in Duncan on February 2-3. “The weather cleared up
on Saturday and really brought out a lot of people,” says Islands Agriculture Show manager Shari Paterson. “I would say we had over 1,600 people come through over the two days. The exhibitors tell me they were thrilled with the attendance.” The show is a destination
event, explains Paterson, who says people come hoping to see or learn something new. “When I walked through the trade show, there were a lot of people engaged in conversations with the exhibitors. There was something for the backyard gardener through to the commercial farmer,” she says. “We had such a broad range of exhibitors and vendors that if you have an agriculture question, you are going to get it answered.” Representatives from the BC
Ministry of Agriculture, farm insurance and farm lending groups
Convened under the
theme, “The Changing Face of Agriculture,” the show’s keynote session was “The Maverick Mentality: Disruptive Questions that Lead to Growth” by Kevin Stuart. Stuart’s session was very
popular, Paterson says, as were workshops on armyworm and Beeomics, a research project funded by Genome Canada and Genome BC to improve honeybee health. Other sessions covered farm taxes, planning for wildfire emergencies, organic certification and co-ops. A special session on
Colourful exhibits at the Islands Agriculture Show in Duncan in early February captured the attention of 450 school children that attended Young Farmer’s Day on the Friday of the show. CATHY GLOVER PHOTO
through to machinery and seed vendors were at the show. “It’s a great opportunity to pull
everything together and have it all in one room,” Paterson says. Agriculture is a big part of life in
the Cowichan Valley, which is home to more than 700 farms. The opening ceremonies featured a special performance by the Tzinquaw Dancers from Cowichan First Nation.
“Cowichan Success Stories” highlighted several successful local agri-businesses. “We had over 400 young farmers come through the show on organized school tours,” says Paterson. “They got to attend the planting station and take some seeds home to watch them grow and they enjoyed the BC
Dairy classroom immensely.” The show alternates between the
Cowichan Valley and other Vancouver Island communities. Saanich will host the show on February 1-2, 2019.
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