North American Seed Fair still growing after more than a century

By Lethbridge Herald on February 26, 2026.

Herald Photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Chair of the North American Seed Fair Committee Ryan Mercer shows Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society director Cody McIntosh some of the winners of the North American Seed Fair Wednesday at the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

The North American Seed Fair held annually in conjunction with Ag Expo is celebrating its 129th anniversary this year and is showcasing various samples of pulse crops, cereals, and oilseeds.

Chair of the North American Seed Fair Committee Ryan Mercer said for him the fair is more than a showcase, it’s part of his family’s legacy.

“We farm just South of Lethbridge and have been involved with the seed fair, for three generations. Like my grandparents, my parents and myself, and now my son and my nieces and nephews and sisters and brothers, everyone is involved,” said Mercer. 

He said that because the seed fair has been in his family for generations, he is very excited to see it growing. 

“This is one of the last seed fairs in North America that is still going on and it’s growing. We’ve got involvement from 4H featuring art work they made with various seeds, and another big change has been the involvement of the Ag Society,” said Mercer. 

He said the Ag Society has been very helpful, as they provided volunteers to make the show happen and has been helping them to raise awareness. 

The North American Seed Fair brings together seed growers from across Canada and the United States to display top-quality samples of pulse crops, cereals and oilseeds. 

Mercer said the display includes wheat destined for bread and pasta, barley used in beer production, and some of the products from seed to product. 

“We’ve got several different types of cereals, pulses, and oilseeds. We have crops of different varieties not only from southern Alberta, but also from other provinces and even in the U.S. that are judged on quality,” said Mercer. 

This year, more than 180 samples were received and judged, a significant increase from recent years. The display is located in the Real Estate Centre Lobby, by the north entrance, where the Lethbridge & District Agricultural Society (LDAS) also has a booth. 

LDAS director Cody McIntosh said is great to be able to interact with the public as one of their first objective as society is community engagement and the fair supports the Society’s commitment to agriculture advocacy and education.

“We’re here in the community and hearing from our residents,” said McIntosh. “We’re all excited to not only be in the boardroom making the strategic plans, but out in the floor and talking to people.” 

He said the board has been meeting regularly to establish a strategic plan, and their objectives for the next six to 12 months. 

“We do have a few events coming up. Our first one that we’re really excited about is Aggie Days later in March. We’ve got over 1,000 students registered to come for the two-day event. So that’s going to be incredible,” said McIntosh. 

Learn more about the North American Seed Fair at ag-expo.ca.