Show Highlights - Foster Show

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Here is a recap on Foster Agricultural Show. VAS would like to congratulate the Foster Agricultural Show of conducting a successful Show after being in Recess in 2019. VAS would love to hear from the Shows about what were the highlights oshowhif your 2020 Show. Send it through to info@vicagshows.com.au with a few photos.

We are pleased to deem the 112th Foster & District Ag Show a success! Perfect weather, new competitions including a woodchop and on farm dairy challenges combined with the immense enthusiasm of our local community for the return of their agricultural show resulted in exceptional attendance rates.

Strong competition returned to the exhibit shed with 10-12 entries in both the VAS Fruit Cake and Carrot Cake competitions. Horse classes, HRCAV ring and showjumping in particular, had high participation rates and the dog high jump was a real crowd favourite with the grandstand overflowing with spectators. Nearly 250 free showbags were awarded for our inaugural “Golden Brick Road” challenge for kids.

The committee would like to thank all the businesses and individuals that supported the return of our show be it financially or simply for their attendance. We are excited to spend the next 12 months working towards a great 113th Foster & District Show to be held on Saturday 27th February 2021!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

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Wishing all Show Societies, Exhibitors and Supporters of Victorian Agricultural Shows a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

VAS appreciates your support and contribution you have made to the Victorian Agricultural Shows Movement in 2019 and we look forward to the 2020 Show Season.

The office will be reopen on the 30th December 2019 to prepare for the Saddle Horse Championships and the email address info@vicagshows.com.au will be monitored over this closing period.

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Clunes Show Highlights

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The 159th Clunes Show was held this year in fine conditions on Saturday November 16th 2019.  Supported from the community and exhibitors alike made for a great day.

29 utes competed in our Bute Utes competition and almost 1700 exhibits in the Homecrafts Pavilion made for a fabulous display.  Livestock exhibits included 190 sheep across 15 breeds, 16 cattle (6 breeds), 88 fleeces, 22 pens of goats and a quality display of prime lambs.

The kids enjoyed a fun range of activities and sideshow events including the dodgem cars.

Crowd favourite was unquestionably the dog high jump. 

Plans are underway now for the 160th Show to be held on Saturday 20th November 2020 and we also look forward to supporting Junior Ambassador entrant Matilda Hill in 2020.

Mansfield Show Highlights

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Brilliant sunshine ensured a record crowd through the gates for the 130th Mansfield Show on Saturday, November 16.  Comments on the day ranged from “best show yet”, “we had a great day out” and “the kids loved it!”. Highlights included the return of Lachie Cossor’s Outback Stockman Show, a display of horsemanship skills, working dogs and the appearance of his Braham bull.   Horse entries were up this year with many positive comments about improvements to the arena prompting promises to return in 2020.

Entries in other sections were strong especially in the photography classes which was one of the biggest displays in the pavilion.

 The return of the side saddle classes after several years brought a touch of elegance of a bygone era. The Shetland Derby saw plenty of ponies and young riders take to the course in racing colours and entertain the crowd. The Dog High Jump sees working dogs showing off their prowess in front of an enthusiastic audience.

The fleece competition lures top class local wool producers to enter and junior cattle handling section draws several students from Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop Campus.

The school writing competition attracted more than 260 students from the Mansfield district which was a massive task for stewards and judges. Floriculture, cookery, needlework, garden produce, craft, art, produce, pickles and preserves attracted diverse entries across all age groups. One of the highlights is watching the excitement of young children taking out prizes with their entries. One young lad enters in more than 30 classes!

As always the show committee is grateful for the support of local sponsors and volunteers who make the show possible for another year.

Secretary

Lynn Elder

Photo Credits: Michelle Spencer

Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show Highlights

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LILYDALE & YARRA VALLEY SHOW ATTRACTS ALL-TIME RECORD CROWD!

On November 16th & 17th, Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show #66 was held in near perfect Show weather. Apart from some light showers on Sunday morning, we had 20 degrees with a light breeze both days and the crowds poured in – 12,000 confirmed through wrist band sales and at least another 1000 estimated.

Highlights in no particular order were:

  • Record crowd numbers and gate takings – a great thrill for the Committee and volunteers who put in a such a huge effort and whose reward is a successful Show.

  • A record number of entries in just about all areas,

  •  The twilight Concert and Fireworks Display was held on the main arena which was filled to capacity with the crowd, for many of whom this is the highlight of the Show,

  •   The Melba Park Family Precinct with the entertainment stage going all day both days, featuring local budding singers and musicians, dancers, judo display, martial arts display, calisthenics, a swing dancing exhibition, and a talent quest on the Sunday PM that discovered ten local young artists of high quality. The Park also contained the animal nursery, sheep dog trials, pony rides, Black Snake productions, a blacksmith and displays from various local community groups.

  •  Large community involvement – the Show brings together just about all the community groups in the district giving them opportunities to raise funds for their own activities while assisting the Show,

  • A display of collectable cars which attracted a very large amount of interest,

  •  The large number of high-end rides and other entertainment provided by the Showman’s Guild and attracting a large number of participants especially teens,

  •  Essential Services displays from Police, CFA and SES including the “jaws of life” demonstration,

  •  The Dog High Jump which was conducted on the main arena and attracted a large crowd due in no small part to the interesting and informative commentary provided by John Tyrrell,

  •  A welcome return to Show scene of the recently reformed Yarra Valley Young Farmers who pitched in and assisted in a number of areas. Wonderful to see them back after many years absence in the Yarra Valley.

Many more highlights too numerous to mention but anyone who has doubts about the popularity of Agricultural shows needs to rethink – especially in the “near to the City” shows where city people want to see, touch and learn about agricultural life.