The 1st annual Southwest Business and Entrepreneur Expo took place Wednesday February 7th, 2018 at Tundra Oil and Gas Place in Virden. The day was filled with information for entrepreneurs that included various speakers, specific seminars about small business, a trade show and business pitches reminiscent of the well-known show Dragon's Den.

 Throughout the day, various entrepreneurs pitched about their business' and provided the judges with a lot of information about the scope of small and new business throughout the region. Various organizations provided incentives - such as prize money for the pitches, and the pitchers were vying to be the best pitch of the day which was sponsored by Community Futures Westman.

Following a lot of debate and discussion, the 'dragons' narrowed it down to a tie for first place - Bar Y Meats of Deloraine and Melita Therapy Centre shared the first place prize and honour of having the best pitches of the day.