This year, the Palmerston-Waihemo A&P show takes place on January 31, and will be held on this date for the next two years, Palmerston Waihemo A&P Association secretary Christine Leov Lealand said.
"Entertainment on offer ranges from pony rides, bouncy castle, pippity-pop balloon art, ukulele concert, live music, mini-jeeps, working vintage machinery, tractor tug-of war, showjumping and fairground foods like curly fries and Mr Whippy.
"Love Racing are bringing their horse racing simulator so you can try your hand at being a jockey. There’s a hobby horse competition, a terrier race run by Goodwood Kennels, a mullet hair competition and a pet parade for children under 12 and their pets.
"In the Gilligan St sports hall we feature spinning and weaving demonstrations, plus lots of art, photography, flowers, vegetables and baking in the Garden and Gallery competitions."
Having a unique place in the A&P calendar was a benefit for the show, she said.
"Our crowds come from locals, to the wider Waitaki and Dunedin district and the passers-by on State Highway 1.
"Because our show is not in competition with any others in the southern district, we may well have many more competitors as well as public attending."
Perhaps, even more than usual with this being the event’s 160th year.
"Those earnest gentlemen in 1865 could not have possibly foreseen the time when communication with the rest of the world was literally at one’s fingertips, that the local sale yard could be replaced by a photograph sent electronically to a seller, and that an agricultural and pastoral society would be offering seminars on rural mental health instead of how to control fly strike in sheep," past secretary and life member Maria Bartra said.
The event, at the Showgrounds on Gilligan St, Palmerston, will be open to the public 9am-4pm on Saturday, January 31.
Online entries close on Wednesday.
EVENT TIMELINE
■ 1866 — The first show held on March 28 at Waikouaiti.
■ 1867 — The second show was held on April 3 at Palmerston with full show reports in three local newspapers.
■ 1868 — Third show held at Waikouaiti on 15th April. A newspaper report after the Show discussed the value of the prizes — considered to be excessive.
■ 1869 — A separate show of "seeds, roots [root crops], and garden produce" was held at Palmerston but under the auspices of the A&P Association. However, in 1877 the committee decided to discontinue this show as it cost too much
to hold.
■ 1878 — The 13th show was held in December in Palmerston and was reported "in all respects the best ever held in the district."
■ 1879 — A year later the standard was maintained with the 14th show held in Waikouaiti in December —
"There can be no question the show was in this respect the most successful of any yet held."
■ 1881 — It was decided that the Waikouaiti and Shag Valley A&P should be dissolved. Within a month it was decided to name the new association the Waikouaiti.
County Agricultural and Pastoral Association and all the shows were to be held in Palmerston. The plant and material in connection with the defunct Waikouaiti and Shag Valley Agricultural and Pastoral Association was purchased at auction by the new Association for the sum of £12. At this time Palmerston borough and
Waihemo county did not yet exist. However, some at Waikouaiti were unhappy that they would no longer have a show so a new association, the Waikouaiti Royal Agricultural and Pastoral Association was formed at Waikouaiti. Their first show was held on December 16 that year, and Palmerston’s a week later on
December 23. It is not recorded why the new association felt entitled to call itself "Royal."
■ 1882 — The two shows again followed each other one week apart. By now, Waihemo County and
Palmerston Borough had been formed.
■ 1883 — The annual meeting of the Waikouaiti County Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at the Criterion Hotel. There was a large attendance, 43 members being present. After a discussion, the name of the Association was changed to Palmerston and Waihemo County Agricultural and Pastoral Association.
■ 2015-16 — The Palmerston & Waihemo A&P Association moved to rename the annual show and the inaugural Field Days "East Otago" and to welcome residents living in Waitati, Warrington, Seacliff, Karitane, and Waikouaiti. However, this name change for the A&P only lasted one year and then reverted to the previous name.
