54th Canadian Western Agribition officially underway

Day one of the Canadian Western Agribition in now complete. The kickoff included livestock, rodeo, and hands-on ag learning. Jacob Carr reports.

Monday officially kicked off the 54th annual Canadian Western Agribition with the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre on hand at the Brandt Centre for the ceremonial burning of the brand.

The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan hasn’t missed an Agribition in its 54-year history and said getting chosen to take part in the opening tradition was exhilarating.

“I was so excited because I’ve been seeing people do this for decades. Very, very exciting and I’ll get to keep that eventually. They cut it up and they give it to me,” she said.

The event brings in people from across Canada and holds a special meaning for Miss Rodeo Agribition 2025, Abbey Harty, who wrote a speech about what Agribition and the province of Saskatchewan means to her.

“I am Saskatchewan. I am more than just land and latitude, more than just grain silos and gravel roads. I am skies that stretch forever, fields that feed a nation, and people who ride for something bigger than themselves,” she said.

The 21-year-old from Edam, Saskatchewan was crowned Miss Rodeo Canada 2026 in October and is the first to earn the national title while also holding the Miss Rodeo Agribition Crown.

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“It’s incredible to be able to represent something that you’re so passionate about, and to be able to write that down and take that to a competition like Miss Rodeo Canada and explain to the people in that room exactly what event I’m representing and where I’m from,” Harty said.

For Canadian Western Agribition CEO Shaun Kindopp, the event is an important educator for younger generations to learn about the importance of agriculture in Saskatchewan.

“You talk to any of the older generation here, and they all remember coming as a kid, going through the barns, seeing the education, seeing the machinery. it’s just important to showcase that Saskatchewan is agriculture,” he said.

Kindopp added one of the main things he loves about Agribition is that it brings people together.

But perhaps the spirit of the week is best summed up Harty, the Miss Rodeo Canada 2026 in waiting.

“If you really want to know who I am, come visit me in the final week of November, that’s when my soul stirs. When the fences get mended, the trailers roll in, and the city of Regina puts on her boots and goes Western. That’s when Agribition begins.”