REGINA – More than 125,000 visitors, including 800 international guests, attended this year’s Canadian Western Agribition at Evraz Place.
Drumming up excitement and perhaps a new crowd to the industry’s premiere event is full-contact jousting.
“The community interest in this one is outstanding. I just did a photo-op with the Regina Costume Club and those aren’t your normal Agribition visitors,” said Marty Seymour, Canadian Western Agribition CEO.
Some of the knights behind the 150 pounds of armour bring a surprisingly different image to the rodeo.
“I’ve always been a real big animal lover. We rescue all our horses from slaughter houses and I’m a vegetarian,” said Zach Lovering, one of the jouster’s who hails from Toronto. “I’ve broken my hand about 12-13 times. I’ve dislocated my knee cap. I’m the reining concussion champion.”
Jousting is one of 90 events in six days, injecting more than $37 million into the economy.
“It’s been five good nights of rodeo. Friday and Saturday were sellouts. It’s the hottest ticket in Regina,” said Seymour.
Although new events like jousting are creating a buzz, the backbone on what the show was built on 44 years ago remains strong.
Tyson Rasmuson of Ty-D Cattle Company in Midale has been coming to Agribition for more than twenty years but this is the first time he is a grand champion prospect steer winner.
“I won with this solid silver calf. He just sold for $4,800,” said Rasmuson. “I’ve never been a grand champion, so this is a first for me.”
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