He said it was also special because his father and association patron, Bruce, was there to witness it.
He could not remember how long he had been involved with the association but said, as the Patersons had been farming at Armidale since 1882, there would likely have been family involvement since the show's inception.
''Patersons have always been renowned as good stockmen, I would like to think, and renowned as good supporters of the show.''
He said the family had always entered the wool section, and often won, not only at the Maniototo show but also in national events.
This year, they won the Supreme Fleece of Show and Supreme Sheep of Show awards.
They won the same awards, albeit with a different fleece and a ram instead of a ewe, at the Central Otago A&P Show in Omakau last Saturday. He said the key was to take pride in the work.
''You have to take pride in what you're doing. You still have to do the basics but this [winning awards] is really the icing on the cake.''
Over the years, especially recently, he had seen the number of sheep entries dwindle.
''Thirty years ago our pens would have been over-full; today they're probably only two-thirds full.
''It's just a sign of the sheep industry at the moment, until the dairy industry goes boom, goes crash.
''Sheep farming, everybody thinks, is on a bit of a downer but returns, providing you do everything well, are not too bad. Dairy returns are significantly higher which makes it [sheep farming returns] look less.''
Two other men were made life members of the association - retired Naseby farmer John Steele and Patearoa farmer Nic Clarke. Both are past-presidents, as is Alan.
Association secretary treasurer Neville Wahrlich, speaking on behalf of Ian Smith, a life member who was unable to attend the show, said the award was ''an acknowledgement of years of dedicated work in helping make this day a big success and a feature on our Maniototo calendar''.
The show attracted a good crowd and numbers were similar to those of previous years, Simon said.
Wool and sheep entries were down slightly but others were up.
He said the quality of the exhibitions was a testament to the entrants, particularly the ones who entered each year.
