The 2022 South Otago A&P Show gets under way today and, among the many attractions ahead, centre stage will be the traditional show queens.
Wrangling the mob for the second time since she was show queen herself in 2018 is Clifton shepherd and farm manager Bayley Coates.
Miss Coates said this year’s six candidates had been put through their paces for the past several weeks, and were ready to enter the final furlong today.
"We’ve done horse riding, team building, health and beauty coaching, and a fundraising fashion show, all of which have been strongly supported by local businesses, who’ve really got behind this year’s event.
"Show Queens is all about building personal confidence and stepping a little outside your comfort zone, while having plenty of fun along the way. So we’ve also done things like whip-cracking which, fortunately, did not end in A & E for our lovely girls."
She said despite 8-10 being the ideal number of candidates, the six prospective royal representatives this year had shaped into a "small but perfectly formed" group.
"We opened up the age range a little, and started the activities a bit earlier, and these girls have risen to the challenge 100%.
"We’ve had a fantastic time together. They’re just a cheerful, outgoing bunch who all deserve to win."
A&P Society president Bridget Lowry praised Miss Coates for her contribution to what would be the town’s 156th annual show.
She said the public could look forward to a characteristically packed programme of events from 9am.
"After last year’s closed-doors show, due to Covid, we’re looking forward to cranking things back up again.
"We’ve got a packed programme of traditional classes, entertainment and sideshows, and a wide range of refreshments for people to come and spend the day with family and friends."
Mrs Lowry said the show would have a particularly well-subscribed home industries section this year.
"We’ve had online entries for the first time, and they’ve sky-rocketed."
Among further attractions are sheep-shearing and woolhandling demonstrations; extreme stunt-cyclist Levi Goodall; fair rides; Balclutha’s brass and pipe bands; a petting zoo; historic displays; and the Invercargill Rock’n’Roll Club.
Entry is $10 for adults; under-16s are free.
