Based on a number of statistics, the most recent Canadian Western Agribition was the best on in recent memory.
During Agribition's Annual General Meeting, CEO Shaun Kindopp shared a number of highlights from the 2025 edition of the show.
Among them was the international representation, as over 700 guests from 76 countries visited Agribition, including 56 Mexican cattle producers. The international delegations contributed to $280-thousand 600 in purchases of Canadian genetics.
Kindopp says travelling abroad has been a focus in recent years to build those relationships.
Overall attendance was 151,037 and Kindopp notes increases in attendance for other events happening at the show, including Maple Leaf Circuit Finals Rodeo which saw a total of 24,000 come through the doors.
"Our Indigenous Agriculture Summit attendance was up, our rodeo attendance was up, our attendance through the gate was up, so everything measurable that had an attendance tied to it was up this year." he said, adding the rodeo was 400 tickets "away from being four consecutive sellouts".
"Everything surrounding Agribition for the past couple of years has really been climbing…we can't do that without people buying tickets and coming and supporting us."
Hotel occupancy during the event was up across the board.
During the event, there were 15,537 estimated room nights, the average week long occupancy at participating Regina Hotel Association hotels was 86.2 per cent with the peak being Friday at 92.1 per cent and Wednesday and Thursday were over 90 per cent.
"It's something we're proud of, as again, it happens during a tourism off-season, so the importance of Agribition of when it happens and what it does for both Tourism Regina and Tourism Saskatchewan is incredibly significant." Kindopp said.
A study from Praxis Consulting Inc. on the 2025 event showed Agribition created $151.3 million in economic activity.
Regarding ticket sales for the rodeo, Kindopp said they decided to delay the ticket launch until after Labour Day, knowing Regina is a "last-minute town", and it worked out, resulting in the highest rodeo tickets sold for a third straight year.
Kindopp also noted the 5 year agreement with the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association to keep the Maple Leaf Finals Rodeo at Agribition.
On the education side, over 16 thousand kids went through the education pavilion during the week and the introduction of the sensory hour was a success, reaching capacity. Kindopp said they're looking at expanding sensory hour for this year's event.
For the third straight year, the trade show grew as the number of exhibitors increased 13.4 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024, and up 20.5 per cent since 2023.
"Last year was the first year that we've sold out our trade show since the (Bunge International Trade Centre) was built. And they're already ahead of that pace for this year, so again, the trade show's been one that people are continuing to circle on their trade show map of ones that they need to be at, not want to be at. It's fantastic."
There was also a year-over-year increase in sponsorships and Agribition turned a profit in 2025.
Kindopp says their social media presence also saw substantial growth.
Followers increased 13.5 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year and nearly 30 per cent since 2023. Impressions on their platforms were 10.5 million, up 75 per cent from 2024.
Plans for this year
What to expect for the 2026 edition of Canadian Western Agribition, especially with the deal between Brandt and the City of Regina being finalized, was also covered during the meeting.
Brandt Sports & Entertainment Group, which is part of the Brandt Group of Companies, agreed to purchase seven facilities at REAL District from the City of Regina.
It includes the Brandt Centre, Queensbury Centre, AgEx Building, Canada Centre Building – where the Agribition office is located – Stockman’s Arena and Cattle Barn along with the surrounding parking lots and land.
According to a May 6 news release from the City of Regina, the City will retain the Mosaic Stadium, Co-operators Centre, the AffinityPlex and "maintain ownership of the Bunge International Trade Centre (ITC), which Brandt will lease and operate."
The expectation is transfer of ownership of the facilities to Brandt would happen in July and September this year.
There was word that this year's event would have less space to work with.
"We have been told that there will be no livestock going into the Canada Centre today." he said, but committed to keeping the same level of cattle at the event as in previous years.
"Agribition is here to commit that this event goes, that this event retains all of the livestock. We are not interested at the moment in negotiating and making sure that we might be able to get rid of some cattle. Our position is that the livestock stay, our exhibitors are comfortable, and the experience that they have been accustomed to for 55 years at Agribition remains on par, if not elevated."
Kindopp says they're working to ensure all risk is mitigated.
An alternative solution to not having the Canada Centre is having a large tent near the International Trade Centre that is well lit, ventilated, and temperature controlled for cattle.
During a quick question and answer session following Kindopp's presentation, he said they weren't consulted prior to the deal being made with the City and Brandt.
"To be blatantly honest, there wasn't a lot. A lot of it was us, again, kind of being tipped off and making sure that we can position ourselves and trying to do a little bit of—not investigative work per se—but trying to get as much information as possible out of people who have a document that can't really sign anything. We definitely would have loved to have had more conversations for sure."
But he did mention they're in communication with the Semple family, the owners of Brandt, to find a solution.
"When we've been talking to (the Semple's), they're committed to a solution. I know that the city is still working on a definitive agreement. Again, what we're hoping for is to get some language in that definitive agreement to ensure that there is true protection in writing, as I think that that's the most important thing."
There was a report earlier in the week of a 30-day eviction notice being handed out Friday to tenants of the Canada Centre and Stockman's Arena, including Canadian Western Agribition.
SaskToday reached out to Brandt for confirmation, but have not yet received a response.
