Families can experience life on the farm in the city during Aggie Days at the Calgary Stampede, running April 18–19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nutrien Western Event Centre and Agriculture Building on Stampede Park. This free, family-friendly event is a chance to step into the world of agriculture, right in your backyard.
“Each year, Aggie Days gives families a chance to connect with agriculture in a real and meaningful way,” says Brian Gross, volunteer Chair of the Ag Education Subcommittee, as part of the International Agri-Food Committee at the Calgary Stampede. “It is an exciting opportunity to learn where food comes from and meet the people who make it possible.”
Here are five highlights to check out:
1. Meet livestock up close
See farm animals of all shapes, sizes and ages! From cows and calves to sheep and lambs, to goats and kids, to mini donkeys and draft horses. Watch feeding routines and talk to farmers about how animals are cared for and raised.
2. Watch live demonstrations
Catch scheduled, live demonstrations like auctioneering, cow and goat milking and historical methods of farming with the aid of draft horses, the gentle giants of the West. These sessions show the skill and care behind everyday farm practices, both from the past and present.
3. Try hands-on activities
Test your aim at a mock roping station, explore grain handling displays or climb into farm equipment simulators designed for younger visitors.
4. Ask the experts
Local farmers, ranchers and industry representatives host booths throughout the Nutrien Western Event Centre and the Agriculture Barn. Ask questions about crops, livestock and how food moves from farm to table in Alberta.
5. Cheer on the competition
Take a seat and watch action-packed events in the arena at the Nutrien Western Event Centre! See sheep herding in action at Clock, Stock and Barrel, on Saturday, April 18, when handlers and their stock dogs race against the clock to move three sheep through a defined course and into a pen. On Sunday, April 19, witness the Extreme Cowboy Race, where a horse and rider maneuver through a series of obstacles, demonstrating both their amazing horsemanship.
Learn more and plan your visit to Aggie Days 2026!
Recent Stories
Youth excellence, powerful heavy horses and mighty minis shine on Day 8 of the Calgary Stampede
July 10, 2026The next generation of agriculture took centre stage Friday at the Calgary Stampede as youth competitors showcased their dedication, skill and passion during the OH Ranch Branded Beef Ambassador program and Junior Steer Classic, while the Heavy Horse Pull and Canadian National Miniature Horse Show rounded out another action-packed day of agriculture competition at the Nutrien Western Event Centre.
Where Legends Are Remembered: The Calgary Stampede Hall of Fame
July 10, 2026Established in 1974, the Calgary Stampede Hall of Fame — previously known as Pioneers of Rodeo — recognizes the people and animals whose skill, character and commitment shapes the legacy of both rodeo and chuckwagon racing at the Calgary Stampede. The 2026 class reflects the full breadth of that legacy.
Raising Champion Steers: What It Takes to Compete in the OH Branded Beef Program
July 10, 2026Every July, 12 youth competitors walk into the Nutrien Western Event Centre arena with a steer weighing more than 1,000 pounds that they’ve raised since it was a calf. The OH Ranch Branded Beef Youth Ambassador Program, the only program of its kind in Canada, gives youth ages 14 to 18 a rare, hands-on shot at building a career in agriculture.