A student exchange program based in Regina will be making a visit to Weyburn's Wheat Festival and Weyburn Rodeo this summer as a part of a cultural exchange involving students from Japan.

The Regina Fujioka Student Exchange Program will pair 25 Regina students and their families with 24 Japanese students who will travel to Regina in August for two weeks. The students are aged 13-15, and includes their teachers, and will give students a total immersion experience in language, arts, culture and history.

This year, activities the hosts will participate in include seeing the RCMP Sunset Ceremony, a tour and lunch at the Legislature, a Roughriders football game, a visit to the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw, and a day in Weyburn at the Rodeo and the Wheat Festival.

As a part of the visit to Weyburn on Saturday, Aug. 9, there will be an opportunity given for the Japanese students to have photos taken at the rodeo.

The exchange will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with opening ceremonies held from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. at Luther College High School, with speeches by Japanese and Canadian dignitaries, students and parents.

The exchange program is a non-profit program supported by educational and civic officials, parents and students and the Chandisherry Foundation. After the Japanese students visit here, the Regina students will in turn visit Fujioka, Japan in August of 2009.