From 4-H animal shows to tractor parades, our farming industry takes centre stage this weekend as visitors from near and far flock to Exhibition Park to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Agrifair. For a full list of attractions, visit the Agrifair website.
This year marks Agrifair’s 115th anniversary, but our region’s agriculture tradition stretches back even further than that. And while the festival’s antique farm machinery displays remind us of the past and the progress we’ve made, its 4-H competitions highlight the next generation and give us a glimpse of the future and all that’s to come.
As a Council we want that future to be as bright as possible, so we’re doing what we can to set our agriculture and agritech sectors up for success by supporting investment opportunities and advocating on their behalf.
Agriculture is such a significant part of our community that if you live in Abbotsford, chances are you’ve got a farm connection and you might not even know it. In 2022 the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the University of the Fraser Valley determined that our farm economy supports 16,770 local jobs, which is nearly a quarter of all jobs in Abbotsford. This includes food and beverage production, agritech and agri-tourism attractions like wineries, cideries and farm-to-table restaurants.
Our 1,254 farms sit on 61,586 acres of the most productive farmland in Canada on a per hectare basis and generate nearly $1 billion in farm gate sales annually, which amounts to almost one quarter of all farm gate sales in the province. Our farms are responsible for a wide range of agricultural goods, and roughly half the dairy, chickens, turkeys and eggs that are consumed in BC come from Abbotsford.
Our reputation as an agriculture powerhouse isn’t lost on the industry. Many provincial and national ag associations choose to base themselves in Abbotsford including the BC Agriculture Council, BC Chicken Growers’ Association, BC Egg Marketing Board, BC Milk Marketing Board, BC Blueberry Council, BC Strawberry Growers Association, BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association, the Raspberry Industry Development Council and Farm Credit Canada.
So while you’re enjoying the rides and performances this weekend, don’t forget about the “Agri” part of Agrifair. It’s a big part of our history and culture, it’s a source of great pride, and it’s the reason we’re all celebrating.
Abbotsford City Council