November memories in agriculture
When November arrives each year it is a turning of the calendar which floods my mind with a myriad of memories spread out over varying times in my life.
November 01, 2026
Key points from this story:
- Memories sparked each November
- Grade 6 in Tisdale
- Dad sent pigs to Toronto Royal
- Rode passenger train to Royal
- First Agribition held in 1971
- Covered Yorkton Harvest Showdown evolution
The first takes me back to my Grade 6 year in Tisdale.
My Dad had sent some pigs east on the livestock train headed to the Toronto Royal. Yes, back in the early 1970s a special collection of rail cars gathered stock headed to what was then the premier show in the nation.
While the pigs headed east with a hired man on board to watch over them, Dad arranged for me to miss a week of school, and we then rode a later passenger train east to take in the show.
I recall my teacher telling Dad he was OK with me missing school as I'd learn more from the experience.
I'm not sure he was correct, although I do recall Dad talking to a passenger who had brought a German Shepherd to Canada from Germany having to learn the dog's commands in German. For years I had a 'postcard' picture of the dog offering its stud services.
And then the Royal itself, was an event of awe. Shows for goats and pigeons and the best apple cider, and so many people, creating memory flashes which remain.
It was 1971 when the first Canadian Western Agribition was held too - a western answer to the Royal.
Dad showed there for years - the first 10 for sure - and each was just so big for a kid from a small town to explore.
All the new cattle breeds that emerged over the years: Simmental, Limousin, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Saler, Chianina, Maine Anjou and others. Little did I know that years in the future I would write stories on almost every breed with story bylines in breed magazines, part of my foundation as a journalist.
It was actually a couple of stories that I did for Hereford Digest which were a big calling card for me taking a position in Yorkton at what was then 'The Enterprise'.
Interestingly when I arrived here one of my earliest assignments was to go down to the then 'Agriplex' (now Gallagher Centre) to interview Shaun Morin manager of the Yorkton Exhibition Association for a story on what would be the first Harvest Showdown. I found him in the parking lot pounding steel pegs in to anchor tents which housed stock in the early years of the event.
Whether anyone with YEA would have dared imagine the event would still be going in 2026, it has been amazing to cover as it has evolved including commercial sheep sales, and fancy llama shows, and canola production speakers, and heavy horse shows - no wonder it is a highlight of my year.
