The Yorkton Farm and Leisure Show started out as a promotion feature of the Broadway Park Merchants Association (at the West Broadway Mall) in 1976.

Billed as Yorkton Farm Fair, Allan Kachur, pharmacist at the mall, was very successful at having different livestock breeders promote their breeds by displaying literature in booths in the mall.

This was so successful that in 1977 the Yorkton farm implement dealers set up outdoor displays, and other farm-oriented businesses took booths in the mall.

The promotion by this time had grown too large for the mall merchants to handle. A letter was sent to the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce asking if it would take over the fair, since it had such great possibilities. However the Chamber felt it was too large a project to be handled by the Chamber.

In February of 1978 a meeting chaired by Barrie Hodgson of the Chamber, met to consider the possibilities of staging the Farm Fair as a city-wide promotion. At this meeting representatives of the Yorkton Exhibition Board, the Broadway Park Merchants Association, the Downtown Business Association and the Agriplex were present to discuss the project.

Allan Kachur outlined the past history of the Farm Fair, stating his association had worked with the Department of Industry and Commerce, Agribition and other groups associated with agriculture.

There were problems, such as Wednesdays being a closed shopping day, and the city requiring the exhibitors to take out a business license. Yorkton This Week had run a successful advertising promotion with each exhibitor taking out a $50 ad in the special edition.

After much discussion at the meeting it was decided that Farm Fair, with the co-operation of the four organizations, would be held in April of 1978.

The 1978 show was to be made up of exhibits, with a view to expanding activities to be coordinated with other related events for the 1979 show. The exhibitors for the first show were to be those who provided product or service to agriculture.

Each of the participating organizations was asked to contribute $200 towards a pool of funds for immediate expenses, with the balance of the funding to come from sponsors, advertising and other sources of revenue.

On February 9, 1978, the organizational meeting set the booth fees at $100 for a l0-foot by 10-foot booth. A letter was sent to city council requesting optional opening on Wedneday, and the waiving of business licenses for exhibitors.

Barrie Hodgson attended council meeting to speak to the letter. Council consented to declaring optional opening for Wednesday, and a satisfactory scale of license fees was agreed upon.

At subsequent meetings the committee reported there would be a fashion show, demonstrations by Penny Powers, the Saskatchewan Dairy Council, the Saskatchewan Poultry Producers and the Saskatchewan Pork Council.

A reception hosted by the Chamber and Labatts would be held for the exhibitors and the Fair Board would operate a casino during the show. Other entertainment would be provided by school bands, ethnic dancers and the showing of film in the concourse of the Agriplex. Yorkton Television would do live shows such as Profile and the farm show from the Fair. CJGX would broadcast live from the show.

The western provincial premiers were meeting in Yorkton at that time and Barrie Hodgson was responsible for the opening ceremonies in which the premiers would be involved.

The show committee dropped the $100 fee for livestock exhibitors and the possibility of a seed exhibit was explored. To attract families with children, an Old McDonald's Farm was set up in the Agriplex.

Doug Sherwin of the Exhibition Board chaired the very successful 1978 show. Income for this first fair was $6,000 and expenses $5,350. The surplus funds were given to the management board for improvements to the Agriplex.

The second show in 1979 added an indoor rodeo as an attraction. However, heavy snow storms during the two nights of the rodeo resulted in a poor attendance and the professional cowboys were either stranded in Yorkton or were not able to get here. As a result, that year the show showed a loss.

In 1980 a second rodeo was held as an attraction, but this year spring came early and the farmers were out on the land...again a deficit.

Farm Fair was incorporated in 1980. In 1981 the Farm Fair committee and the Sunrise Lions Club joined together to produce the third show. Farm Fair and the Sunrise Lions Club had equal representation on the committee. For the first time admission was charged at the gate and the financial position was much improved.

Later the Chamber, the Exhibition Board and the Sunrise Lions Club amalgamated and the fair became known as Yorkton Farm and Leisure Show.

The show is operated by the three organizations, with each organization having five voting members on the committee. The chairmanship of the show is rotated among the three participants.

The Chamber provides the secretary, the Sunrise Lions the treasurer and the Fair Board the administration.

Over the years there have been many changes in the show. The Yorkton Farm and Leisure Show is considered to be one of the better trade shows in the province and there are many loyal exhibitors from out of town who come back each year. The show has become a major source of revenue for the three participating organizations.

This year, with Kathy Rusnak of the Exhibition Board as chair of the show, a new feature has been added. A section of arts and crafts will be on display in the Convention Centre of the Agriplex.