Join us for the 2025 Alberta Agricultural Society Conference, where industry leaders, innovators, and community members come together to share ideas, gain insights, and celebrate agriculture in our province. Explore the draft schedule below to see the exciting sessions, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities we have planned!
Pre-Conference Thursday, February 6th! Enjoy a day of free events designed to inspire, connect, and prepare you for the days ahead. From engaging workshops to networking opportunities, there's something for everyone to enjoy before the main event begins.
Lunch is included with this session*
10:00 – Noon: Zamboni maintenance (this will include blade changes, greasing the machine, general maintenance and proper driving procedures)
Noon – 1:30: Arena ice making and maintenance
1:30 – 3:30: Curling ice making and maintenance
If you have volunteered to help stuff Delegate Bags this is where we will meet.
AGLC offers the Gaming Information for Charitable Groups (GAIN) program to help Alberta charities better understand charitable gaming policies. GAIN provides essential information about the requirements for GROUPS that conduct or want to conduct charitable gaming activities like bingos, casinos, pull ticket sales or raffles. This presentation covers general charitable gaming information and will provide resources to contact AGLC departments about your groups specific needs.
Farmers’ markets are part of the fabric of our communities, providing a testing ground for our entrepreneurs and a gathering place for our communities. There are 150 Alberta approved farmers’ markets with more than 35% sponsored by agricultural societies. The Market Manager Training course is mandatory training for market managers in approved farmers’ markets. Join Eileen for this half day workshop if your Ag Society already sponsors a farmers’ market or you would like to learn more about the Alberta Approved Farmers’ Market Program. You will learn about the Alberta Approved Farmers' Market Program, the minimum requirements of approved farmers' markets, the roles of the various stakeholders, including the market manager, and learn the basic legislation and regulations affecting vendors selling at farmers' markets and the expectation for the market manager in enforcing compliance with legislation.
Come join other Delegates for an evening of socializing (this will be the only hospitality room we have)!
Kick off the conference on Friday with Dr. Jody Carrington's keynote, expert workshops, grant tips, and a celebration of women in agriculture!
Discussion will be around:
-Ag Society responsibilities both before a claim occurs and once something does happen.
-What authority does an Ag Society have to act when their property is damaged?
-The claims process – actual cash value or replacement cost options.
-Partial claims verses total losses.
-What about loss of revenues due to a claim?
-Role of your broker during the claims process
For an insightful presentation on taking your fairs, exhibitions, and rodeos to the next level. Building on the success of last year’s talk, Jason will explore the benefits of using online ticketing data, practical digital marketing techniques, innovative pricing strategies, and emerging trends in the event industry. Discover straightforward tips and tools that will help your agricultural society manage events more effectively and provide a great experience for attendees. Whether you're new to online ticketing or looking to maximize its potential, this session is for you!
This session will provide an overview of the Alberta Agricultural Societies Program; provide key updates; and feature mini-breakout sessions where you can discuss questions or issues one-on-one with program area staff (e.g. annual returns, grant applications, bylaws etc.).
Fraud is the fastest growing crime in Canada, and it’s difficult to stay on top of the latest schemes that are rampant online and in our community. The fraudsters are technologically savvy and convincing, tempting you online, on your phone, in your mailbox and at your door.
Rural areas are a favorite target for fraudsters. Learn how to spot the most common scams and recognize the red flags. Discover the latest tactics and tips on how to keep your community from being victimized.
Canadians lose more than $500 million every year to fraud and only 5% to 10% of these crimes are even reported.
Consumer Protection Expert and Former Global TV Trouble Shooter and peace officer, Julie Matthews, shares personal stories and tricks to spot the latest scams. Bring your questions for an engaging Q and A session. Let's fight fraud together!
A session on how to make the most of your grant application and getting everything right the first time. In this session Monika will go over Tips and Tricks to help you get your Annual Grant Application done right the first time to hopefully eliminate rework on your part.
"My Journey Home."- ride alongside Melody as she talks about the tips, tools, and connections she made that helped her come home to take over the family ranch and start the next chapter of her life in agriculture.
We are striving to bring farm safety into the 21st century utilizing state-of-the-art LED projection and interactive gaming. An artfully designed 3D farm comes to life and takes the audience on a journey through the dangers farmers face every day. The audience is brought into the show, answering data driven questions that display directly to their devices.
This program highlights the negative impact every day injuries have on farms, reinforces the positive impact safety training has, and concludes the whole experience with accredited safety resources and training program – ultimately bridging the gap and creating a seamless transition from awareness to action.
Come join other Delegates for an evening of socializing (this will be the only hospitality room we have)!
Saturday is all about diving deeper into discussions, connecting with peers, and exploring innovative solutions. Packed with engaging panels, hands-on workshops, and plenty of opportunities to network, it's a day designed to inspire collaboration and spark fresh ideas.
Delegate & Speaker Badges can be picked up in the AAAS Office
We will be moving Saturdays meals to the large Entertainment Centre
Your non-profit organization has a meaningful mission that deserves to be shared far and wide. But if you’re feeling uncertain about using social media to amplify your impact, this session is for you! Join us for an engaging workshop designed for non-profits, where you’ll learn simple yet effective strategies to boost your social presence and deepen your community connections. Here’s what we’ll cover:
● Platform Basics: Discover which social media platforms best align with your organization’s goals and learn how to use them effectively to engage and grow your audience.
● Understanding the Algorithm: Gain insights into how social media algorithms work, empowering you to create content that reaches more people and resonates with your followers.
● Crafting Compelling Content: Master best practices for creating captivating posts that foster a loyal community and inspire your followers to take action.
Whether you're new to social media or looking to enhance your strategy, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make a real impact online.
A session on how to make the most of your grant application and getting everything right the first time. In this session Monika will go over Tips and Tricks to help you get your Annual Grant Application done right the first time to hopefully eliminate rework on your part. Please come prepared to ask questions. This session will be done in 2 parts to give her lots of time to answer your questions
Join us as we explore growing your region, exploring partnerships, and building a stronger community. This session will focus on the goals and opportunities within Open Farm Days, and what you can do as an Ag Society to support your region. Marketing and media insights will be included to help you realize what you and your region can start to do on a grass roots basis. We will also be sharing other local Ag Society initiatives to get you thinking about ways to get involved in the program.rocess
In this session, we’ll explore the powerful role of visual storytelling for non-profits and how it can elevate your organization’s presence online. We’ll cover:
● Creating Impactful Visuals: A practical guide on using photos, videos, and graphics to authentically share your story, highlight events, and showcase your organization’s impact.
● Show & Share: Discover the difference between telling followers what you do and showing them with visuals that create an emotional connection and inspire support.
● Spotlighting Sponsors: Learn simple, effective ways to feature sponsors on social media, with examples and content types designed to increase visibility and engagement.
Join us to learn how visual storytelling can strengthen your brand and attract the support your non-profit needs
Bench shows have a long history as part of many agricultural fairs. Community members enter a wide range of exhibits for friendly competition. The prime purpose of these exhibitions is to showcase the talents of the growers and makers with classes including horticultural crops, handicrafts, food, fibre arts, photography, and much more.
Big or small, a successful bench show takes careful planning and a team of people. Using examples from many Alberta fairs, this session looks at the key steps for hosting a show. Karen brings a combination of “ by the book”, show & tell, and participant discussion to her presentation.
Whether you have a well established bench show, are a brand new show convenor, or are looking to revive a show in your home town, you will leave with new ideas about the ways a bench show can bring fun, education, and engagement to your community.
Resources include a copy of Horticulture Bench Shows: A Quick Guide for Show Convenors
Marketing Award Announcements - Photos of winners in Lobby
Will be out in the hallways when people come out of sessions
Come join other Delegates for an evening of socializing. This will be the only hospitality room we have.
