Farmers, producers and the community come together this week at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre.
The annual Ag Expo, presented by Vanee Farm Centre, is in the city Wednesday through Friday. Officials say 310 exhibitors are on-site showcasing agriculture technologies from around the country and beyond, including from the United States, France, Italy, Netherlands and Australia.
Director of event development for Excite Lethbridge, Paul Kingsmith, said it is satisfying seeing the expo come together after months of planning.
“We’ve got three great days, a sold-out show where we’re going to be bringing in people from across the region and beyond to really celebrate agriculture, see the latest technologies, and we know business gets done here and we’re helping the industry move forward, so it’s a really good day,” Kingsmith stated on opening day Wednesday.
Show manager Suzanne Bielert adds southern Alberta and the Lethbridge region have such a “vibrant agriculture community” and the atmosphere at Ag Expo is positive.
She hopes attendees gain a lot from the three-day event.
“We want them to be able to look at the technologies that they can apply on their farm to increase their productivity, their proficiency, to stay up to date with tech and how it can help on the farm,” Bielert said.
“We want the most proficient way to feed our province, our country and the world.”
She said Ag Expo gives industry members the chance to make connections with others and spark conversations that can help “solve problems within the ag industry”.
“Down here, we have a great irrigation system. That is ultimately our biggest factor – is the environment, so how can we accommodate that? How can we work with the technology at hand,” Bielert remarked. “It might be something [technology] that we don’t already have here, so it just helps boost our local farmers.”
The exhibits are not solely indoors, as guests can check out over 20 outdoor exhibitors at the expanded Double C AgCo Machinery Row in the south parking lot.
“We are just continuing to [expand] that footprint out and beyond that,” Kingsmith said.
“I think what we’re continually trying to do is just make sure we have the right exhibitors here – people that are pushing the industry forward, those who are bringing in new technologies, those who are trying to make a difference in agriculture.”
Kingsmith added that the event is a “one-stop shop” for attendees.
“What we’ve got is a real cross-section of agriculture, so everything from the seed production … to the livestock side to the grain side, the small producers, the big producers, basically anything agriculture, you can find it here.”
Michael Vas, sales manager for Vanee Farm Centre Lethbridge, said an event like Ag Expo serves a “huge purpose” for southern Alberta, especially as technology in the industry continues to evolve.
“Every year, the advancements we see in our equipment – it’s almost hard to keep up just with how the technology goes,” he said.
NORTH AMERICAN SEED FAIR
Ag Expo also features the 129th North American Seed Fair, brought in by Seed World Canada and produced by the Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society.
The fair gathers seed growers from across Canada and the U.S. to showcase samples of pulse crops, cereals and oilseeds.
The 2026 event features over 180 samples, with guests able to check out the fair in the Real Estate Centre Lobby. Officials say the event is a great way to show attendees how their food goes from the field to their plate.
In addition to seed samples, the fair features artwork by local 4-H Club members, created using seeds.
READ MORE: Lethbridge & District Ag Society announces director, board members
The 2026 Ag Expo is at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre Feb. 25-27.
More information is available on the Excite Lethbridge website.
