WATCH: Enthusiasm beats the heat at AIM 2024

Thousands of attendees braved the mid-July heat for Ag in Motion 2024.

Western Canada’s largest outdoor farm show transformed over 100 acres near Langham, Sask., into a small city for three days of demos, discussions and the latest developments in agriculture.

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“I really like the positive atmosphere that everybody’s brought to the show,” said show director Rob O’Connor on the final afternoon of the event.

He added that “the mood’s been upbeat … lots of people shaking hands and doing deals.”

Ag in Motion ran from July 16-18.

The full attendance tally is still to come, but O’Connor estimated that this year’s event drew 30,000-32,000, with many people needing more than one day to make their way through the grounds to take in the new machinery, innovations, crop research and all things ag-related in-between.

“We really found that as this show started to mature and grow. People do have to take more than just the one day to see it all, especially if you want to take time to visit with your friends and neighbours while you’re at the show. There’s just not enough time in the day to see it all,” he said.

The show also attracted international visitors.

“This show is starting to attract people not only from the Prairie provinces, but also from around the world,” said O’Connor.

This year’s show saw a record 37 product launches or innovation announcements on the schedule. O’Connor said the 607 exhibitors also marked a new record. “This tells me the future of the show is strong.”

In addition to the main show grounds, the site boasts Glacier FarmMedia’s Discovery Farm, a 610-acre research site conducting trials and demonstrations.

The large land base allows the show to offer ride and drive programming, wherein farmers can get firsthand experience testing out the new technology available.

“Farmers want to see this stuff working. They want to get in there and they want to feel it. And that’s what we’re able to offer in the demonstration part of this show,” said O’Connor.

A drone demonstration was well attended by people looking into some of the most cutting-edge technology, but the old school was also well represented at the daily tractor pull.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the show.

Looking ahead, O’Connor said that “the base of the show is agriculture production and that’s what we’ll always do, but we’ll probably start adding elements to the show that can drive the attendance and bring in more farmers from a longer distance – giving a positive impact to those companies that invest in their booth spaces and sponsorship.”