YORKTON — The importance of agriculture to Yorkton and the region is being celebrated Nov. 3 – Nov. 8, as together, the Yorkton Exhibition Association and Yorkton Chamber of Commerce declared that week as Agriculture Week in Yorkton.
A key feature of the celebration is the 36th Annual Grain Millers Harvest Showdown hosted by the Yorkton Exhibition Association.
In recognition of Agriculture Week in the city, a unique brand has been created which has been made into a branding iron. To ‘kick-off’ Agriculture Week, special guest Jim Gorman applied the brand to a board that will be on display throughout Harvest Showdown.
“It’s quite an honour,” said Gorman after the branding noting he was on the YEA board for a number of years.
Gorman also noted the importance of farming locally, and why it is important to be recognized by an event such as the branding.
“Agriculture’s huge to Yorkton,” he said. “. . . It’s so important.”
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle who took part in the branding picked up on the theme of the importance of farming to the city.
“I think it’s foundational to our community,” he said.
As for Harvest Showdown Kienle said it brings people to the city which is a positive, but there is more to the event’s importance.
“I think it highlights what a lot of us already know but maybe forgot about,” he said, then reiterating agriculture’s importance.
Kienle said when you look around the city and see the canola crushing plants, farm implement dealers, and other ag support businesses you can see how farming impacts the community.
“You get a sense we really are a super power in the province in agriculture,” he said.
The Yorkton Exhibition Association and the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce are two of the oldest organizations in Yorkton. The Exhibition Association was founded in 1883; while the Chamber of Commerce was chartered in 1898. Through the years, the two organizations have enjoyed a collaborative, working relationship.
