Largest Montana Ag Show Sold
-- Tradeshow Week, 6/30/2008
The Northern Intl. Livestock Exposition Stock Show, ProRodeo & Horse Extravaganza acquired the Montana Agri-Trade Exposition and two consumer shows from Jerry Hanson and Associates. MATE, the largest annual agricultural tradeshow in Montana, will be held Feb. 19-21 at MetraPark in Billings, Mont. NILE will be held Oct. 11-18, also at MetraPark.
“The NILE board of directors felt this was a great opportunity and good fit for the NILE that offered us more diversity,” said NILE President Gary Adams. “It was important for this event to stay in Billings because of its economic impact to the community.”
Justin Mills, general manager of the NILE, said it owns other events in the fall that match well with MATE.
“With (the MATE) event in February, we think it will be a good tie-in with what we do as far as other events throughout the year,” Mills said. “We knew it had been for sale for a few years, so we just looked into it and felt it was a good opportunity for NILE.”
MATE was first staged in 1976 with 60 exhibitors. By 2007, it had grown to more than 210 exhibitors and 13,500 attendees, according to NILE.
Mills said although he believes there is a “tremendous amount of potential to grow the show in various areas,” he is not planning any major changes to the current show.
“We are extremely confident in the staff and operations that are already in place, and there are no plans to make any changes,” he added.
The two consumer shows also acquired are the Billings Home & Garden Show and the Health & Fitness Expo, held concurrently.
