Organisers touting New Zealand Agriculture Show 2022 to be 'best show ever'

Organisers touting New Zealand Agriculture Show 2022 to be “best show ever”

The New Zealand Agriculture Show, being held from 9th to 11th November 2022 at Canterbury Agricultural Park, will celebrate all that is great about rural life and has organisers touting the event as being ‘the best Show ever’.

The New Zealand Agricultural Show is South Island’s largest community event that features parades, competitions, carnival, entertainment, demonstrations, animals, food, and so much more. 

The Show has been in hiatus for the past two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is returning with a few innovations, including new sponsors and corporate hosting.

Thanks to Kiwi Gaming Foundation, there will be free entry to The Show for those under the age of 18 and for the first time in The Show’s history, there will be evening entertainment, at the aptly named Cassels BaaBaa Bar.

New Zealand Agriculture Show General Manager Tracy Ahern notes “our Board is focused on a new future proofed strategy. We definitely had to rethink because it just wasn’t financially viable to keep relying on two weeks of income a year to keep The Show alive, yet alone grow it.”

Other innovations introduced this year include the Clash of the Colleges – a 15 module competition open to secondary schools. Teams face a variety of tasks such as identifying animal anatomy, condition scoring of sheep, wool classing, identifying seeds and weeds, applying drench, tying knots, safety, aspects of fencing, and putting together a shearing hand piece.

New Zealand Rural Games Trust founder Steve Hollander said the Clash of the Colleges was developed to increase the skill level of the next generation adding “the Clash also has a rural sports focus, with modules that include gumboot throwing, egg throw and catch, sulky races and more.”

Ahern is also determined to reduce waste at The Show, with an ambitious aim to halve it this year through the likes of sustainable sourcing (including the reduction or reuse of materials), a specific bus service and encouraging cycling with the addition of more cycle racks for the duration.

Ahern added “Materials will be measured, tracked, and reused or donated to community organisations and schools at the conclusion of the event.”

A grandmother of four, Ahern says The Show brings together all the things dear to her adding “I’m intrigued by the rural urban divide, passionate about sustainability, love animals and people having a good time. There just are not that many places where people can go for good old fashioned inter-generational family fun.

“With a focus on youth this year, I believe that we can inspire and showcase options for kids to have a go in a safe space. We want to help every child get a taste of rural life – many kids don’t have that opportunity.”

Gold sponsors for the Show include Bayleys Real Estate, Isaac Construction, and Cassels Brewing with Nestle and Alliance among the event’s silver sponsors.

For more information go to theshow.co.nz/