Every January during Manitoba Ag Days thousands of people purchase thousands of 50/50 tickets to hopefully win thousands of dollars, but also to support the Ag Days Gives Back Granting program. The goal is to raise thousands of dollars through ticket sales so the Ag Days team can grant thousands of dollars to rural Manitoba projects and organizations. In the end, thousands of people benefit from this initiative.
Ag in the Classroom is just one of those organizations who reap the rewards from the Ag Days Gives Back program.
Ag in the Classroom is an educational program designed to help students understand where their food comes from, and more about the Ag industry as a whole. Aimed at students in grades 7 to 12, the program is delivered during Ag Days, and its set up much like a career symposium where students can explore various aspects of the agriculture industry.
With numerous exhibitors already present at the event, students have the opportunity to learn about the wide range of careers available in agriculture—an industry that accounts for one in seven jobs in Canada. The program serves as a valuable platform to showcase agricultural opportunities and encourage youth involvement.
Each year, over a thousand students participate in the program. The $15,000 in funding helps cover transportation costs and program fees, making it possible to bring students from across the province to the event to experience this global adventure the showcases agriculture here in Manitoba, but also on a great world-wide spectrum.
As busloads of students arrive at the Keystone Centre during Manitoba Ag Days, they're given a scavenger hunt to try and find specific booths on the map. At each booth they learn about how that organization contributes to the Ag Industry. This way they learn about agriculture in a number of different fields.
"It's all hands-on learning," shares Ag Day Executive Director, Kristin Phillips. "There's actually a hundred exhibitors that sign up to be part of the program, and the students will visit about 30 different booths each. So, there's kind of three different scavenger hunts that are set up so that all these exhibitors aren't overwhelmed. They get about 1/3 of the students every day."
Phillips says it a unique but powerful way to share the different career paths in the Ag industry with these Grade 7-12 students who are looking at the different options for future education and job opportunities. And it also inspires them to look at what programs our local Assiniboine College and Brandon U have to offer.
"It's a wonderful program to educate students about agriculture and what the different job potentials are," says Phillips. "And so, it's a great partnership for us, not only with our exhibitors at the show, but with Ag in the classroom Manitoba to foster that relationship with students!"
"We are so privileged to be able to support the communities where our exhibitors and patrons live, and to support these students every year through the Ag Days Gives Back Program," she adds. "So, thank you to everyone who purchased 50/50 tickets last year, and you can already purchase tickets for the 2026 Manitoba Ag Days 50/50 draw!"