While right now it seems like longer than 8 weeks ago, the annual Cramer Ag Expo a successful event took place back on February 13th. The one-day show held at Kintetic Exhibition Park serves as a great place to welcome producers from Saskatchewan, adjoining provinces and even the US.
Exhibitors at the sold out trade show were very pleased with the solid flow of traffic throughout the day. You could hear conversations all around the room, chatting about the latest in the hog industry – new technologies and the best way to be prepared. Exhibitors represented all aspects of the pig sector, from Genetics, to Pharmaceuticals, to Equipment, to Feed Companies, anybody who supplies the agriculture sector.
A unique booth on site this year was HEART (Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team), a dive team from Oak Bluff, MB. They have an amazing story what started out as a dream of becoming a diver, turned out to be peace of mind scenario. The HEART team has, on numerous occasions, recovered bodies of loved ones that have drowned.
Trades show event coordinator Kelly Turcotte, commented “We were very pleased with the turn out. We have had a waiting list for booths for months.” Doug Cramer, creator of the show added, “We wiggled and tried to fit more booths in where we could, but there is only so much room.” This is a sign that those who want to participate at next year’s Cramer Expo had better act early.
As many will remember from previous years the Hutterite Brethan of Saskatchewan is a tremendously generous group — donating hogs for the Cramer Cup competition. Yes, part of the reason is to try and claim the coveted Cramer Cup; however they want to give back to the less fortunate. The twenty-one Colonies that donated thirty four hogs in this year’s competition participants are: Baildon, Beechy, Bench, Butte, Carmichael, Downie Lake, Earview, Garden Plain, Grassy Hill, Haven, Kyle, Main Centre, Matador, Ponteix, Smiley, Spring Field, Soverign, Thompkins, Valley Centre, Vanguard, and Wymark.
At the end of the day the winners are announced in various categories in the Cramer Cup series. Eggs, Hay and Cereal grains, even the ladies get involved with a pie contest. Richard Hodgkinson, Dean Moore and Teagan Oleksyn had the hard job of judging the winners for the pie contest. Taste, texture and aroma are only some of the categories. Top place was awarded to Marisa Hofer from Balden Colony.
Taking on the tough job of judging the hog carcass competition was Jason Care from Manitoba Hog Grading for Manitoba Pork Council. He had to blindly judge the 34 entered carcasses. When addressing the anxiously awaiting crowd, he commented that it was a tight competition with only two points separating the top two places. First place took top honours with 102 of a possible 111 points. Points are earned in multiple areas, some are; Loin Eye Colour, Backfat, Marbling, Loin Eye Area, Belly, Measures (fat, loin, lean yield).
It was a very tight competition indeed, with 5th place receiving 96 points. In fact even 21st place finished with 75 points, so quality through all the carcasses was superb.
The top five were Earview 5th, Vangaurd 4th, Haven 3rd, Baildon 2nd and Butte in first place. However the big winners of the day are always the charities. Roberta Essex, owner of Superior Meats shared with Prairie Hog Country that there were 6930 lbs. on the rail from carcasses – split into 1100 lbs. of hams, 531 lbs. bacon, 135 lbs. breakfast sausages, 613 into Mennonite sausage plus roasts, ribs, pork chops and ground pork.
Recipients of this years donated meat are Soul Harbor, Salvation Army Maple Creek & Swift Current, Canadian Mental Health and Chili for Children.
Once all the winners were announced the real fun began with the Sale of Champions, with Tyler Smith handling the auctioneering duties and Robert Kostron and Dean Dieuk helping call from the floor. You could feel the adrenalin starting as the winners posed with their respective category winner, pick their charity and the bidding begins.
Whether it was Proveta donating monies to HEART for the signed Jersey, or Sollio, Fortified or Matrix bidding on carcasses with monies being donated various charities like Stars, Saskatoon Children’s Hospital, Nobleford Hospital. Charity is the huge winner of the day, with totals exceeding $30,000.
Doug at the end of the day thanked all the sponsors for without them there would not be a successful show, he also named the sponsors of street signs, coffee break, carcass cooler and trophies.
Please make sure to mark down Thursday, February 11th for next year’s instalment of Cramer Ag Expo. •
— By PHC Staff
