While a layer of ice on windshields and “soupy” roads may have challenged local travel this past weekend, the atmosphere inside the Lloydminster Exhibition grounds remained warm as the Sellers RV Spring Sport and Leisure Show celebrated its second year of a post-pandemic rebuild.
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Originally rooted in the “Lloydminster Showcase,” which dates back more than two decades, the event is once again finding its footing. For organizers and vendors alike, the weekend proved that while the internet offers convenience, it can’t replace a handshake.
Landon Beacock, chair of the Spring Sport and Leisure Committee, has seen the event evolve from its early days into its current iteration. After the “giant trade show” era was halted by COVID-19, the focus has shifted toward steady growth.
“It’s growing. It’s bigger than it was a few years ago, and it didn’t exist at all for a while,” Beacock said. “Now, we’re building back toward a new normal.”
Despite the unpredictable spring weather impacting the initial turnout, Beacock noted that a slightly slower pace can actually be a blessing for those looking to foster genuine business ties.
“I can’t talk to 1,000 people, but I can have meaningful conversations with 50,” he explained. “Trade shows are about relationships. You don’t get those personal connections or the stories behind businesses (online).”
For Chris Bettscher, general manager at Sellers RV, the show represents the culmination of weeks of hard work.
“It takes about three weeks of prep and a few days of moving everything,” Bettscher said. “That’s the hard work, and this is the fun part. It’s great to have the boats, the quads, and the booths all back under one roof.”
Bettscher, who has been with the company for 25 years, emphasized that the show is rarely about “snap-decision” purchases. Because the items on display — from RVs to power sports — are luxury goods designed for “making memories,” the event serves as a vital touchpoint for customers to see what’s new and reconnect with familiar faces.
The show also attracted talent from across the border, including Linda Button of Canora, Sask. Button, a 15-year veteran of the trade show circuit, brought her unique brand, Mutton’s Corner, to Lloydminster for the first time.
Named after her TV show on Access Communications where she boosts local entrepreneurs, Button’s booth featured a mix of “sparkly jewelry” and liquidated stock from other small businesses. For her, the show is a cure for the isolation of solo entrepreneurship.
“I like the people interaction,” Button said. “I’m a widow and at home by myself, so I like seeing the kids and the grandparents buying stuff for newborns.”
When asked if she would return to the Border City next year, Button offered a classic vendor’s perspective: “I’ll let you know after I count my money — it’s got to even out!”
As the ice melts and the “soupy” roads clear, the sentiment among the exhibition subcommittees remains optimistic. With other local events also seeing increased participation, the Spring Sport and Leisure Show appears to be on a clear path toward reclaiming its status as a massive community staple.
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