MITCHELL, MB

Agriculture has been the backbone of the economy in southern Manitoba for well over a century. Over the past couple years, however, it has been radically transformed to a wedding venue-based economy, as every young couple seems to want to get married in a barn for some reason.

“Oh, sure, you’ll see plenty of barns when you take a drive out in the country,” said local economist Kevin Doerksen. “But the hogs are all gone and now they’re full of Mennonites wearing matching dresses and tuxedos. A lot has changed….the smell has stayed the same, though.”

Southern Manitoba now has more than 15,000 barns/wedding venues, including the ever popular Love Handle Acres.

“We were booked solid all summer,” said Mrs. Plett, owner of Love Handle Acres. “I think the young people these days

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