2021 Saddle Horse Championships Postponed

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It is with huge regret to inform all stakeholders and past exhibitors that the 2021 VAS Ltd Saddle Horse Championships planned to be held on the 2nd & 3rd January 2021 has been officially postponed.

The VAS Ltd Board & organising Committee was waiting as long as it could before making a formal decision, but with the uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions and any future timing of public gatherings it has been decided to postpone the event. Other options of dates later in 2021 or early 2022 will be investigated.

VAS Ltd is disappointed to make this decision as we know so many of our Horse Showing enthusiasts love coming and supporting the event each year. 2020 has been a challenging year for all the Show Societies that have been forced to cancel and we are now being notified of a number of cancellations for early 2021.

The Saddle Horse Committee felt that it was best not to conduct the event in its usual format as exhibitors have not been able to qualify and in particular for the Racing Victoria Off The Track Series, Alabar HERO Series & first season events, as potential exhibitors haven’t had the opportunity to qualify.

Please note that If you did qualify in the Racing Victoria Off the Track Series & Alabar HERO Series during the 2020 Autumn Show Season these qualifications will be rolled over to the next championships.


If it becomes not possible to have the event later in the year, we look forward to presenting the Saddle Horse Championships bigger and better in 2022.

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Scones, spiders, and home-grown delights at ABC Victoria's virtual agricultural show

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ABC Radio Victoria decided to step in and put on a virtual show, and while it couldn't solve any financial issues, it did give people the chance to compete for a show ribbon.

The essence of a typical agricultural show was condensed down to seven categories including fruit and veg, flowers, and scones, but there were also a couple of COVID-related categories in the form of best homemade face mask, and best limerick about coronavirus.

Click on this link to view the full article and results:

View the Article and Results Here

$2.7 million 'show' of support for COVID-hit agricultural field days

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The Australian Government has today announced a $2.7 million boost for agricultural field days to ensure they can continue to showcase innovation and support regional communities after the pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the funding is part of an overall $39 million commitment to help show societies and field days deal with cash-flow pressures caused by COVID-19 cancellations.

“All agricultural shows and field days that have cancelled their event in 2020 because of COVID-19 will be eligible and they will not have to compete for assistance,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Our agricultural field days are uniquely Australian and provide huge economic spin-offs for the local communities hosting them as well as opportunities for the businesses and services who exhibit.

“The famous Henty Machinery Field Days, near my electorate of Riverina, usually hosts up to 60,000 visitors from throughout Australia but had to be cancelled this year because of COVID-19.

“The initiative is part of our Government’s $1 billion COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund, which is supporting regions, communities and industry sectors severely affected by the pandemic.” 

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program will provide a one-off reimbursement to agricultural show societies and agricultural field day organisers impacted by COVID-19.

“This funding supports not only the larger agricultural field days but also the smaller regional ones because we acknowledge the role these events play in supporting on-farm innovation, productivity and profitability,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Field days hold immense social and economic value for local rural and regional communities, many of whom are doing it tough because of COVID-19.

“The Nationals want to assure those communities and the dedicated volunteers who work so hard to run these events that we are with them all the way during these times – as the only party dedicated to representing regional Australia we understand that it will be agriculture leading our economic recovery.

“This $2.7 million announcement is in addition to the $36.3 million previously announced to support agricultural show societies.

“I will continue to urge my State and Territory counterparts to also make a contribution to help agricultural shows and field days survive the impact of COVID-19 because of the positive impact they have on their economies.”

An additional $100,000 one-off grant will be provided to the Association of Agricultural Field Days Australasia to support its annual conference scheduled for 30 April 2021 to 2 May 2021 and provide training and assistance for members on recovery management planning. 

Secretary of the Association of Agricultural Field Days of Australasia, Wendy Franklin, said the funding would provide a welcome boost for rural and regional Australia. 

“Field days play a vital role in educating the community about the importance of agriculture and make a valuable contribution to the economy of rural and regional communities,” Ms Franklin said.

“Today’s announcement from the Government will help field days recover from COVID-19 and ensure Field Days can continue to deliver significant economic and social benefits to regional Australia.”

Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia, Dr Rob Wilson, also welcomed the Government’s announcement of the $39 million package.

“Both Agricultural Shows and field days deliver significant benefits to regional communities across Australia supporting and showcase agricultural endeavours—and the Government’s support package will help Agricultural Shows and field days recover from the impacts of COVID-19,” Dr Wilson said.

For more information, visit www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/infrastructure/supporting-ag-shows.

Fast facts:
•    Field days provide income to local contractors of more $1.8 million and economic value add to the Australian economy of more than $100 million.
•    Community organisations like P&Cs, sport clubs, men’s sheds and local emergency services receive income of over $1 million in providing services such as set-up and car parking.
•    The Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program funding complements the Australian Government’s existing $20 million Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program and will be provided under the $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund.
•    The $2.7 million for Field Days is in addition to the $36.3 million for Agricultural Shows. 
•    Field Days could be eligible to claim reimbursement costs including bank fees, utilities, rates, insurance, fire alarms and equipment, cleaning supplies, telecommunications, IT system licensing costs, website costs, state/national show body affiliation fees and rent.

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Beaufort Show holds successful Online Competition

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The Beaufort Show has held an online Lego Competition that has attracted a new record of 60 entries. In the last 15 years at the traditional annual show held, the largest number of Lego entries would have been 25 entries in one year.

The competition sections were re-organised from 3 to 6 separate classes to accommodate the increased number of entries. Each entrant sent in photos of their entry, which was themed around an Agricultural Show. The two photos supplied by the Beaufort Show are Lego display entries of the woodchop and the crowd watching the motorbikes in the stands.

 “There will be a display in an empty Beaufort shop window of all 60 photos of the entries – definitely worth a look,” said James Kirkpatrick, the Show President.

Prizes were awarded to the first 3 placegetters in each section, although place cards and ribbons were awarded to 6th because the standard of entries were so high. The Society is grateful for sponsorship from Goldwind who are building the Stockyard Hill Windfarm. Goldwind generously supplied drink bottles to everyone who entered that did not place in the first three places.

The Society is grateful to teachers from Beaufort, Trawalla, Buangor and Ararat who encouraged children to submit online entries, which were photographed and laminated for judging.

By the time you promote the competition, it closes, judge it and display it – it is about a 4 week task.  We will have an October and November competition as well.

The Beaufort Show encourages other Show Societies to try and conduct some sort of competition as it maintains visibility within your community. They are also sharing the workload as a different team of volunteers will handle the next competition, which is 4 decorated cup cakes ( 5 sections in age groups) – 2 photos to be sent in one with the entrant and the cakes – proof of production and one –( or two views ) of just the cakes for the judges.