Nearly 450 people attended the 2024 Ag Connections Conference, pictured here in a file photo courtesy Colton Mckee.--File Photo
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Cypress County has announced the dates and part of the lineup for the 2025 Agricultural Connections Conference, which promises to bring together producers from the region and beyond.
Now in its third year, the event continues to grow as Alberta’s largest professional development conference for primary producers, drawing attendees from across southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and even further to see what is in store for their field.
Hosted by Cypress County and Palliser Economic Partnership, the one-day producer event has seen strong momentum, starting with 337 attendees in its inaugural year and growing to 448 last year, and looks to grow even further this year.
The event will be hosted at Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Grounds on Nov. 13.
“We’re proud to see Ag Connections grow into a must-attend event for our cattle and crop producers,” said Beth Cash, event planner and economic development officer at Cypress County. This conference is all about bringing people together – whether it’s to learn something new, share ideas, or just connect with others who understand what it is like to be in agriculture. We’ve built this event with the producer in mind, and we’re excited to keep raising the bar.”
The conference will be emceed by Katelyn Duban, host of the Wildrose Farmer podcast and a recognized voice in Canadian agriculture.
It will feature breakout sessions, expert panel discussions, 50-plus exhibitors, networking opportunities, door prizes and meals, all of which is included in the price of admission.
This year hosts a strong panel of keynote speakers with Jessica Holmes and Shaun Haney.
Holmes, a comedian and mental health advocate, is known for her work with the Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as appearing alongside household names such as Jerry Seinfeld and Oprah Winfrey. Her season “Mental Health: The Good, the Bad and the Funny” will keep good humour while tackling one of agriculture’s biggest topics.
Likewise, Haney will host “5 Things to Watch in Canadian Agriculture,” bringing his experience as founder of RealAgriculture and host of RealAg Radio to help producers stay ahead of emerging trends and challenges in the sector.
Tickets are on sale as of Wednesday, and are available at cypresscountybusiness.ca for $55. Those interested in sponsoring, exhibiting, or speaking at this year’s event are asked to contact Cash at beth.cash@cypress.ab.ca for more information.
