Many abandoned their gumboots in favour of jandals and sandals as scattered clouds made way for glorious sunshine at the 100th annual West Otago A&P Show in Tapanui on Saturday.
The West Otago A&P Society's first show was in 1911, but the tally did not reach 100 shows until now because of three years' recess during World War 2.
Society president Hamish Ottrey was pleased with the show, which drew more than 160 exhibitors.
''We are are very proud of our annual show, and today is no exception,'' he said.
Neville Hazlett was awarded life membership for his contribution to the society over the past 28 years.
A special best show prize, marking the 100th event, was awarded to the Hall family of Waikaka with their Angus cow and calf entry.
Rob Hall said he enjoyed breeding Angus as it was a nice, clean, feminine breed.
The 485ha sheep, beef, and grain farm, which Mr Hall runs with his brother, is also a dairy support unit.
His daughter Samantha (13) won junior herdsperson, also leading the 6-year-old Angus cow Lilliesleaf Boleyn in the parade, while her father led the calf, Lilliesleaf Baxter.
A display of running of the hounds by the Eastern Southland Hunt Club was a crowd-pleaser, as huntsman Daf Davies led a large pack of hounds around the show ring.
Tractor dancing returned again this year, with magic shows and a range of sideshows running throughout the day. Auckland-based Con Artists were the main entertainment, performing two 45-minute comedy shows.
The West Otago A&P Society was formed by a group of farmers in 1910.
For the group's first show in November 1911, held at Kelso, special stock trains were run from Waikaka Valley, Waipahi and Gore. These trains were unloaded the night before, allowing exhibitors to arrive at the ground and tend to their stock in the morning.
Two massive floods in the space of two years sealed Kelso's fate. The 100-year flood of 1978 swept through the town. It was rebuilt, only to be wiped off the map when another major flood struck in 1980.
After the clean-up in 1980, government agencies and local catchment boards prevented any further building in the flooded area and Kelso, to all intents and purposes, ceased to exist.
The show temporarily moved to Gore.
In 1981, the West Otago A&P Society decided to find a new permanent venue and chose to share the Tapanui racecourse with the local racing club, selling its Kelso grounds for $9500.
The first West Otago show at the site was later that year, with good weather and record gate takings. The committee spent many hours converting the racecourse into a showground.
Many in the society are related to the group's original members or their families and have had several generations of membership.
