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Jun 20, 2012

35 years of Flaman and Farm Progress

The Canadian Farm Progress Show is an annual event that starts on Wednesday June 20th  at Evraz Place in Regina. Known as “Canada’s National Farm Show,” it’s an agriculture industry show that focuses on innovation and technology primarily for dryland farming practices. The show attracts visitors from the across Canada, the USA and 45 other countries. Flaman has a booth at the show since the start. We sat down with Rudy Flaman to talk with him about the importance of the show and Flaman’s history there.
 
When did Flaman start going to the Farm Progress Show?
We were there when it all began and every year since. The first year Frank had to be gone for some reason so Bernice looked after a small booth and has been helping out every year since by making sure all the troops are well fed with some home made food during the show. Thanks Bernice!
 
Why is it an important show to go to?
It’s the number one ag show in western Canada, and it attracts a whole ton of international visitors, along with our local ag market.
With the timing of the show, it’s traditionally been a kick off to summer. Everyone gets their crop in the ground and comes to the farm show in a good mood with their chequebook. You may not be able to talk to our customers for a year, but they’ll come to the show and look you up; it’s a meeting place.
 
Why do you think it’s still so popular today for farmers?
A lot of new product is unveiled at the show. They have a new invention portion of the show, so farmers come to see what is new. If there is any new product or new way of doing something that will be important to the ag industry, it will be at the show.
 
How has the show changed over the years?
What’s changed since it started is all the new advanced technology that’s been introduced. There have been new items at show that 15years ago weren’t even heard of.
 
What has been your most memorable Farm Progress year?
One highlight was back in 1980s when we sold a whole ton of grain storage. And in the early 1990s we won more than one award for best display.
But generally, it’s a time where everybody gets together. The P.A. boys come down, the guys from Saskatoon, Yorkton, a lot of the ag people get together and work as a team once a year.
It’s an opportunity for the sales people to get together with customers. And it’s a big team effort. A heck of a pile of work goes into the set up and take down of the booth.

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