The Calgary Stampede is excited to host Aggie Days this weekend, with a number of both new and familiar hands-on agriculture exhibits. Around 40,000 people are expected to visit over the weekend, and Media Liaison for the Agriculture Education Committee Josh Traptow says they are looking forward to showing off some new exhibits.

"We have some new exhibits of honeycombs, and honey, and how honey is made. New this year, the Grain Academy is also open on the weekend. So our guests can go over to the Grain Academy and learn about grain there, and they can also experience how to drive a John Deere combine on a simulator that we have this year."

Traptow says they've got some fun events planned as well. He says Clock, Stock and Barrel runs all-day Saturday, when owners will herd sheep-dogs and sheep into an enclosure as fast as possible.

"Clock, Stock, and Barrel is a fast-paced action of stock dog trials. It starts bright and early at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and runs through the day on the arena. And it's just an exciting things to see the owners and their dogs work together as a team to get the sheep and their animals where they need to go."

Traptow says the Extreme Cowboy Race begins at noon on Sunday, when pairs will maneuver through a series of obstacles, demonstrating the rider's horsemanship skills and the horse's athletic ability and speed.

Traptow says the event is a chance for kids to learn about agriculture by seeing things up close.

"More and more people are further and further removed from the farm. And Aggie Days is a great opportunity for kids to not only see where their food comes from, but meet the people that make their food whether it's raising animals, growing crops, and looking at the machinery and equipment that goes into putting stuff on their plates."

Aggie Days runs April 6-10 at the Agrium Western Events Centre.