FOR the 184th time in its history, the Campbell Town Show pulled in the best in local livestock, produce and speakers, revellers, shearers and even a few runway models.
The two-day show featured a host of different events, ranging from wood chopping, horse shows and a raft of dog-related events, including the sausage dog race, the Smithfield competition and a rural show classic in the dog high jump. That is without even mentioning the biggest feathers in the cap of the Campbell Town Show, the sheep, the wool and the shearing.
Wool judging, shearing and sheep judging have always been one of the big appeals of the show, and it certainly drew the patrons in. Over the two days some 3000 people made their way through the gates, eclipsing the pre-Covid numbers that sat around 2500.
In what was the first major agricultural show since the lifting of capacity restrictions, it bodes well for the return of the rest of the states shows. Steering operations through some of the most trying times in the show’s history, outgoing president of the Midland Agricultural Association, Georgina Pengilley, said the show was a huge success, and a reward for a difficult two previous years. “We ended up with record numbers which may be a reflection of Agfest being knocked back a little, but it’s also a reflection of restrictions being off, everyone wanted to get and about again,” Ms Pengilley said.
“We also had record numbers in sheep and fleece judging too, we’ve been trying to build that up so that’s fantastic, as was the fashion parade.”
It was Ms Pengilley’s final year as president, but she has no intention of letting up for her love of the show. “Next year I will take up the role of vice-president, so I’ll certainly be in and around the organisation of the event still.” “I’ve been coming her since I was a baby, I’ll always be involved, I just love it.”
Trefusis won the Grand Champion Fleece in the Wool Exhibition, adding to their haul of eight wins from the previous nine shows. They also won the Supreme Champion Merino to add to their 2018 and 2021 wins.
Rockford picked up the award for Most Valuable Fleece, Glen Stuart Merino won the New England Wool prize and Vaucluse won the Elders Paddock to Plate.
The show also hosted the Sports Shear state finals, with a record number of entrants drawing large crowds over the two days. Rob Glover was crowned the winner in the open shearing class, while Brodie Carpenter won the senior class and Jack Cummins took first place in the intermediate class.
In the wool handling competitions, Kellie Hazell took the honours in the open class, with Amelia Byers winning in the senior class and Victoria Lang winning the novice category. In the yard dog trials, Adrian Carpenter took out both first and second place in the ‘Open’ category, while Martin Waddingham took out the ‘Novice’ category.