How to Volunteer at the Portage Regional Exhibition: A Local's Step-by-Step Guide

This guide walks you through exactly how to get involved as a volunteer at the Portage Regional Exhibition—Manitoba's longest-running agricultural fair right here in our city. You'll learn where to apply, what roles are available, and what to expect when you show up to help. Volunteering at the "Portage Ex" is one of the most direct ways we can strengthen our community ties, support local agriculture, and keep this 140-year tradition thriving for the next generation of Portage la Prairie residents.

What Volunteer Opportunities Are Available at the Portage Regional Exhibition?

The Portage Regional Exhibition runs annually at the Portage la Prairie Exhibition Grounds on the west side of our city, and it takes dozens of volunteers to make it happen. When you sign up, you're not just filling a slot—you're keeping a piece of our city's heritage alive.

Most volunteer roles fall into a few main categories. Gate attendants greet visitors, check tickets, and answer questions about the grounds. Setup and teardown crews help build the midway, arrange livestock pens, and clean up after the festivities wrap. Kitchen helpers work alongside local service clubs (the Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie and the Portage Kinsmen are regular fixtures) to serve meals in the exhibition hall. If you have experience with animals, the 4-H and livestock divisions always need handlers, weigh-in assistants, and ring stewards during the cattle and horse shows.

For those who prefer less physical work, the exhibition needs data entry volunteers to record competition results, office helpers to answer phones, and social media assistants to post updates during the event. There's genuinely something for every skill level and physical ability—and organizers will work with you to find a fit that matches what you can comfortably contribute.

Positions typically require a commitment of one to four shifts during the exhibition week, which usually falls in late July or early August. Each shift runs about four to six hours. You don't need prior experience for most roles; the exhibition committee provides brief on-site training before your first shift.

Where Do You Sign Up to Volunteer?

The Portage Regional Exhibition operates under the Portage Agricultural Society, and that's your starting point for getting involved. The society maintains a volunteer coordinator who handles recruitment and scheduling.

Your first step is visiting the official Portage Regional Exhibition website (portageexhibition.com) and clicking the "Volunteer" tab. The online form asks for your contact information, availability during exhibition week, and any relevant skills or restrictions. If you prefer to connect in person, the Agricultural Society office is located right on the exhibition grounds at 2400 Saskatchewan Avenue West—just look for the white administrative building near the grandstand. They're typically staffed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., though hours vary seasonally.

Another reliable route is contacting one of the service clubs that partner with the exhibition. The Portage Kinsmen Club and the Portage Kiwanis Club both coordinate volunteer teams for specific exhibition events. You can reach the Kinsmen through their Facebook page or by attending their monthly meetings at the Kinsmen Clubhouse on 5th Street NE. The Kiwanis Club meets regularly at the United Way office on Saskatchewan Avenue and welcomes prospective volunteers at any meeting.

For students looking to fulfill volunteer hour requirements, the exhibition coordinates directly with Portage Collegiate Institute and École Arthur Meighen School. Career counselors at both schools can connect you with the exhibition's youth volunteer coordinator. Adults who've volunteered in previous years often get early registration access, so if you've helped out before, watch your email in late spring for the returning volunteer sign-up link.

What Should You Know Before Your First Shift?

Showing up prepared makes your volunteer experience smoother and ensures you're actually helping rather than creating extra work for staff. Here's what long-time Portage Ex volunteers recommend.

Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes—the exhibition grounds are gravel and grass, and you'll be on your feet. Manitoba summers can swing from scorching to stormy, so check the forecast and dress in layers. A water bottle is non-negotiable; while the exhibition provides drinking fountains, having your own supply saves time when you're stationed away from the main buildings. Parking is free for volunteers, but the lot fills quickly on popular days. Arrive fifteen minutes early to find a spot and check in at the volunteer tent near the main entrance.

Most volunteers receive a meal voucher valid at the exhibition's food vendors. The Ag Society also provides a volunteer t-shirt that identifies you to visitors who need help—wear it proudly; it signals you're someone who cares enough to give back to Portage la Prairie. If you're working with livestock, bring clothes you don't mind getting dirty and be prepared for the distinct aroma that comes with hosting hundreds of farm animals in summer heat.

Cell phone service on the grounds is generally reliable, but the noise from midway rides and livestock auctions can make calls difficult. If family members need to reach you, text messaging works better. Let your coordinator know if you have a medical condition or mobility limitation; they're experienced at accommodating volunteers and would rather adjust your assignment in advance than have you struggle through a shift that doesn't fit your abilities.

Why Do Portage la Prairie Residents Keep Coming Back to Volunteer?

Talk to any veteran volunteer at the Portage Regional Exhibition and you'll hear the same sentiment: it feels like family. In a city of roughly 13,000 people, the exhibition week is when our community gathers in one place—farmers, business owners, retirees, students, and families all sharing the same space.

Volunteering connects you with neighbors you might otherwise never meet. That elderly gentleman checking tickets at Gate 3 might be a retired agronomist who farmed near High Bluff for forty years. The teenager running social media could be heading to university next fall to study communications. When you volunteer, you become part of the invisible infrastructure that makes Portage la Prairie function—not the government or the corporations, but the ordinary people showing up for each other.

There's also genuine satisfaction in preserving something that matters. The Portage Regional Exhibition dates back to 1877. It's older than the province of Manitoba itself. When you volunteer here, you're continuing a chain of community effort that stretches back nearly a century and a half. That's not abstract history—that's our grandparents and great-grandparents building the event we still enjoy today. Keeping it running is a concrete way to honor that legacy.

Practically speaking, volunteering opens doors. You'll meet city councilors, agricultural producers, business owners, and nonprofit leaders in an informal setting. For young people, it's networking without the awkwardness. For newcomers to Portage la Prairie, it's a fast track to feeling connected to your adopted home. For retirees, it's structure and purpose and social contact rolled into one annual rhythm.

The exhibition also gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how our city actually works. You'll see the mechanical systems that power the midway, the logistics of moving livestock safely, the coordination required to host competitive events and entertainment simultaneously. It's complex, impressive, and entirely run by people from our community—including, potentially, you.

Can You Volunteer If You Have Limited Time or Mobility?

Absolutely. The Portage Agricultural Society understands that not everyone can lift hay bales or stand for six hours. They need volunteers for data entry, phone answering, and judging assistance that can be done seated. If you can only commit to a single afternoon, they'll take it. If you need to bring a walker or service animal, they'll work with you to find a role that accommodates your needs.

The "Friends of the Fair" program allows people to contribute in non-traditional ways. Maybe you can bake pies for the baking competition volunteers. Maybe you have a pickup truck and can help with supply runs during setup week. Maybe you're a whiz with spreadsheets and can help organize exhibitor information from your kitchen table. Reach out to the volunteer coordinator and explain your situation—they've heard it all and genuinely want to find a way for you to participate.

For corporate or group volunteering, the exhibition accepts teams from local businesses, church groups, and community organizations. Portage la Prairie employers including Simplot Canada, McCain Foods, and the City of Portage la Prairie itself have sent employee groups to tackle large setup projects. It's team-building that actually benefits the city rather than just feeling like forced fun.

Remote volunteering has expanded since 2020. If you have graphic design skills, you can help create promotional materials. If you're good with websites, the exhibition's online presence needs ongoing maintenance. These tasks don't require physical presence at the grounds and can fit around work schedules.

"I've volunteered at the Portage Ex for twenty-three years. Started when my kids were in 4-H, kept coming after they moved away. It's not even a question anymore—it's just what we do in August." — Volunteer testimonial from the Portage Agricultural Society

What Happens After You Submit Your Application?

Once you complete the volunteer form, expect an email confirmation within three to five business days. The volunteer coordinator will contact you by phone to discuss your availability and interests, then assign you to a role and schedule. You'll receive a confirmation packet via email with your shift times, reporting location, and contact numbers for the volunteer supervisor.

About two weeks before the exhibition opens, there's a brief orientation session—usually held at the Exhibition Grounds or at the PCU Centre on Royal Road. Attendance isn't always mandatory for returning volunteers, but newcomers benefit from the walkthrough of the grounds and the chance to meet fellow volunteers. If you can't make the scheduled orientation, let the coordinator know; they can often arrange a brief one-on-one walkthrough before your first shift.

During the exhibition, check in at the volunteer tent fifteen minutes before each scheduled shift. You'll pick up your shirt, get any last-minute instructions, and be directed to your station. The volunteer supervisor circulates throughout the day and can answer questions or address concerns as they arise.

After the exhibition wraps up, the Agricultural Society hosts a volunteer appreciation event—usually a casual barbecue at the grounds in early September. It's their way of saying thank you, and it's a chance to connect with other volunteers when you're not actively working. Long-term volunteers (five, ten, twenty-five years) receive recognition awards. It's a small gesture, but in a tight-knit community like ours, it matters.

If you're ready to add your name to the list of Portage la Prairie residents who keep our exhibition running, start by visiting the Portage Regional Exhibition website or stopping by the Agricultural Society office on Saskatchewan Avenue West. The fair only happens once a year, but the community you build while volunteering lasts far longer.

For more information about the history and impact of agricultural exhibitions in Manitoba, the Manitoba Agriculture department maintains resources on their website. The PortageOnline local news site also covers exhibition planning and volunteer recruitment announcements as the event approaches each summer.