Celebrating agritourism with new Southern Alberta Table program

The Lethbridge & District Exhibition is partnering with the Lethbridge Lodging Association to bring forth events featuring BBQ competitions, a celebrity chef harvest dinner, and an Amazing Race-style food event. Mike Warkentin, the Chief Operating Officer for the Exhibition, says there has been a high demand for events featuring agriculture and tourism in our city.

“Everyone I know has a smoker now in their backyard. Everyone I know is smoking meat, baking, doing things. They’re not only just doing these things with traditional means, they’re actually wanting to know where their flour’s coming from, where their sugar’s coming from, and where the steak on the plate is coming from. We have such an abundance of this in southern Alberta. Southern Alberta is so rich in natural agriculture resources, sunlight hours, and the irrigation district. The rich soil here that exists in southern Alberta, it’s so prime to be such a major production in processing region,” says Warkentin.

The events will highlight the producers and products in southern Alberta.

A barbecue judging competition will allow local residents to become judges for barbecue events. This will take place from June 19-20.

The Smoke, Wind & Fire competition is the only professional BBQ competition in July. The public can attend the competition to learn more about how to barbecue from certified professionals. Hickory Street will take part in the festivities as a celebrity judge. Dates are July 10-11.

Odyssey is an Amazing Race-esque event where teams will go through southern Alberta, working together to beat challenges. Dates: August 13-15.

The last event will be the celebrity chef harvest dinner. The fall harvest will be featured, along with the agriculture sector. More details on the celebrity chef will be released later in the summer.

For more information on the events you can visit http://www.exhibitionpark.ca/all-events/.