n THE CARILLON STEINBACH, MAN. C2 n www.thecarillon.com THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2026 Agriculture Now Season long celebrations for Hanover Ag Society’s anniversary at Grunthal’s Exhibition Park
by GRAHAM WALKER T his year marks the “Oak celebrations” for the Hanover Ag Fair, as it commem- orates their 80th anniversary of show- casing rural life and the best of working in agriculture across Manitoba. While the fair itself is scheduled to start on Aug. 13, kicking off with a community-wide parade and featuring Manitoba talent in- cluding singer Catie St. Germain, the excite- ment is most weekends at Grunthal’s Exhi- bition Park with increasingly popular events like the Spring Twist Off, comprising a mix of bull riding and barrel racing. Registration for this year’s Rough Stock School, the training camp that schools new bull riders from ages as young as nine, was filled almost immediately and now keeps a long waitlist of prospects at the ready. Events like the Twist Off allow local talent and pro- fessional riders from all over the world to mingle and exchange trade secrets, especial- ly during the popular Party in the Dirt held afterwards. The event also featured the band Dumpster Fire to keep the party going. The Hanover Ag Fair traces its roots back to 1946 in Steinbach before moving to its new home in 1979. Staple exhibits like livestock and horticulture were the original attrac- tions, but things have steadily evolved with the times to facilitate greater crowd involve- ment and more entertainment for all ages. Today’s fair holds everything from hammer throws to mud bog races, and for rodeo en- thusiasts, the show has been named The Bull Riders Event of the Year three times and is a strong contender to win again this year. The Hanover Ag Fair is a notable and wel- come exception to trends for festivals and fairs all over the world which are shrinking or simply ceasing to operate, whereas the Hanover Ag Fair continues to grow in popu- larity and attendance year after year. In 1956, some 3,000 people attended the traditional fair, whereas last year there were more than 12,000 visitors with more than 13,000 expect- ed this year. Ag Fair general manager Brenda Levesque attributes the success of the festival to first class facilities, such as the large video screen that allows for the “chute cam” to bring the audience right inside the fences with the rid- ers and also allows instant replays of the ac- tion “CFL style.” But the backbone of the success, says Levesque, is “the second-to-none crew of vol- unteers from the community that keep the fair running. Even once the Party in the Dirt fun is over at 1 in the morning, they still show up to strip down and restock for the follow- ing day,” often working until sunrise to make sure the grounds and facilities are ready for the next day. As with so many recent milestones, the well-planned Diamond Jubilee celebrations for the fair were a victim of COVID restric- tions, but this year’s anniversary promises to make up for lost time and fun, showcasing everything from classic tractor displays to draught horses, highly anticipated chicken dinner banquets by Grunthal Broilers, and world-class rodeo events and mud bog races. The growing popularity of the fair, espe- cially this year, is augmented by fewer people traveling abroad and consequently looking for things to do closer to home that are both affordable and family orientated. Brenda says that the Ag Fair is tailor made for these circumstances and that when watching the crowd, she doesn’t see people looking at their cell phones but rather watch- ing the action and “grabbing on to each oth- er.” There’s something every weekend to check out at the Keystone Agri-Motive Livestock Arena, but the 80th anniversary celebrations this year promise to be extra special, and something worth checking out for everybody.
CARILLON ARCHIVES Steinbach Mayor K.R. Barkman hoists a sizeable pumpkin at the Hanover Fair in 1948.
CARILLON ARCHIVES P.S. Guenther sampling an award-winning chocolate cake at the 1948 Hanover Fair.
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Mona Smith and her trick horse Rex circa 1958.
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Frank Reimer buys a top 4-H champion steer in 1954.
CARILLON ARCHIVES Banker T.G. Smith with young Louise Laing receiving a trophy for best 4-H dairy calf.
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The original write up about the award from the 1956 edition.
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