CANADIAN WESTERN AGRIBITION RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION

Released on April 9, 1998

Canadian Western Agribition received $1.7 million today from the

Canada-Saskatchewan Agri-Food Innovation Fund (AFIF) to help improve

facilities for handling specialized livestock at Regina Exhibition

Park.



The funding was announced by Ralph Goodale, federal minister

responsible for Saskatchewan, who spoke on behalf of Agriculture and

Agri-Food Canada Minister Lyle Vanclief and Saskatchewan Agriculture

and Food Minister Eric Upshall. The funds will be used to refurbish

Exhibition Stadium to its original use as a feature livestock show

facility and to provide enclosed links between four key existing

barns.



"Canadian Western Agribition has been instrumental in the successful

exportation of Canadian livestock and livestock genetics for more than

25 years," Mr. Goodale said. "This funding will help the show remain

a key international forum where specialized livestock producers and

marketers can meet and sell their products."



Sales of specialized livestock at Agribition are continuing to

increase. Last year, for example, 41 lots of elk were sold for

$895,000, up from just $196,000 in 1995, and the sale of 130 bison hit

a record $809,500, up from $137,950 generated in 1993. Total

livestock sales last year were $3.8 million.



"The specialized livestock sector is an important and growing

segment of the Saskatchewan economy," said Mr. Upshall. "The

funding from AFIF illustrates the value we place on Agribition

and its relationship to making our specialized livestock industry

grow."



Wayne Gamble, executive vice-president of Agribition, said the

AFIF support is needed.



"This development will create an agricultural showplace second to

none in Western Canada and make us competitive with facilities in

cities such as Denver," Mr. Gamble said. "The Canadian Bison

Association is trying to firmly establish its national show at

Agribition as the world's premier bison show. The AFIF money

will help us improve facilities to reach that goal."



The $91-million Agri-Food Innovation Fund receives two-thirds of

its funds from the federal government and one-third from the

province. The fund was created to promote and support emerging

primary production and value-added processing activities in

Saskatchewan.



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For more information, contact:



Wayne Gamble

Executive Vice-president

Canadian Western Agribition

Regina Phone:(306) 565-0565



Deanne Belisle John Babcock

Federal Co-Leader Provincial Co-Leader

Agri-Food Innovation Fund Agri-Food Innovation Fund

Regina Phone: (306)780-8262 Regina Phone: (306)787-9786