Calgary, AB – For 30 years Aggie Days has been bridging the urban rural divide, Aggie Days will showcase a number of new and familiar hands-on agriculture exhibits at the BMO Centre in the heart of Stampede Park.
“For 30 years our program has been an important connection for agriculture and education – we bring the farm to the city and through live animal demos and interactive displays we educate children to show the impact agriculture has on our daily lives,” says Connie James, chair of the Agriculture Education committee. “This year we celebrate 30 years, when we first started as a small show in the Ag Barn and we now have over 50 exhibits and cover 100,000 square feet.”
New initiatives you will see at this year’s Aggie Days are:
- SLOW Food Calgary and Friends – Learn to grow food in a sustainable, not to mention yummy, manner.
- Cervus Tractor Dashboard Simulator – Have you ever wanted to climb into a massive modern tractor and take the wheel? You can be the farmer at the controls of John Deere equipment.
- Alberta Canola Producers Commission – Launches new educational graphic novel in the Chase Duffy Series - This book will be launched at Aggie Days Stampede Park April 9 at 11am in the Book Corner.
- Celebrity Readers – Agriculture Minister Verlyn Olson (10:45am April 8), Mayor Naheed Nenshi (11:45am April 11), Harry the Horse, rodeo announcer Dave Paulsen (11:00am April 12).
“This year’s focus on how food gets from the farm to the table emphasizes the important relationship between agriculture and energy,” says Joan Shilling, Director, Community Involvement with Encana. “Encana has worked with many landowners over the years to help create these connections for the community, such as the use of fuel to run farm equipment and transport goods to market. We’re proud to be a part of Aggie Days, as it showcases the significant contributions that agriculture and energy have on the cultural fabric of Alberta.”
Presented by the Calgary Stampede Agriculture Education committee and sponsored by Encana, Aggie Days runs April 8-12, 2015 and will play host to approximately 40,000 people throughout the five days. The first three days are reserved for pre-registered school groups with the doors opening to the public on the weekend. The Family Fun Days take place on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, from 10am to 4pm.
Admission is FREE for all visitors! For more information, please visit: Calgary Stampede Aggie Days.
About the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned 10-day Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.
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For more information, please contact:
Josh Traptow – Media Liaison
Agriculture Education Committee
C: 403-837-7359
