Chilliwack got a healthy reminder of the importance and relevance of agriculture over the weekend. For three days, the Chilliwack Fair showcased the industry that’s thriving in our midst.
It was an opportunity to learn more about this diverse and still-evolving sector of our economy – and meet some of the people behind it.
For many, agriculture remains on the periphery. They might marvel at the speed with which a stalk of corn grows, but overlook the broader impact farming has on our lives.
There are 828 farms within the Chilliwack boundaries. They deliver more than $34 million in annual wages, and generate nearly $1.6 billion in additional economic activity.
Within that sphere there is a range of operations – from some of the largest in dairy operations in the country, to smaller farms delivering to niche markets here and elsewhere.
Diary remains one of the most dominant sectors. At the fair this weekend, residents had an opportunity to get up close and personal. Not only were there milking demonstrations, but also opportunities to witness the live birth of a calf.
But while dairy might be the most prevalent, it shares an increasingly diversified agricultural landscape.
And it’s a landscape that is changing. Where once corn, cows and chicken were king, we are seeing increased berry production, more green houses and more farm-gate sales. Today, we have a better opportunity to enjoy the fruits of farm labour than ever before.
But those benefits won’t just be found on the dinner table.
With work beginning on the University of Fraser Valley’s “BC School of Agriculture,” Chilliwack has an even bigger stake in this important industry. It has the opportunity to be the centre of excellence for education and research in a complex field of study that promises economic prosperity and food security.
Chilliwack’s roots are in agriculture, as the 141th Chilliwack Fair clearly demonstrated.
But it’s more than our past. It is also our future.
