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YORKTON - The importance of agriculture to Yorkton and the region will be celebrated Oct. 28 – Nov. 2, as together, the Yorkton Exhibition Association and Yorkton Chamber of Commerce have declared that week as Agriculture Week in Yorkton.

A key feature of the celebration is the 35th Annual Grain Millers Harvest Showdown hosted by the Yorkton Exhibition Association.

In recognition of Agriculture Week in the city, a unique brand has been created which has been made into a branding iron. To ‘kick-off’ Agriculture Week, special guest Merve Kuryluk applied the brand to a board that will be on display throughout Harvest Showdown.

“It’s an honour for me, believe me,” offered Kuryluk, who noted he showed calves at the Yorkton Exhibition as a 4-H member when he was 12.

“. . . Today is very special.”

Kuryluk, now 75, remembers the first Harvest Showdown too, the first year held largely in tents.

“It’s come a long way,” he said.

The branding occurred Monday in the Ag Pavilion on the Exhibition Grounds. Assisting with the branding were Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley; Exhibition President Lyle Walsh; and Chamber President Sunil Shah.

Both noted that marking agriculture week is important given the significance of the sector locally.

“Agriculture is very, very important in the community and Saskatchewan,” said Shah.

Hippsley said it was land that brought immigrants here initially and agriculture “is still going and growing.”

The Yorkton Exhibition Association and the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce are two of the oldest organizations in Yorkton. The Exhibition Association was founded in 1883; while the Chamber of Commerce was chartered in 1898. Through the years, the two organizations have enjoyed a collaborative, working relationship.