Association president Mark Lawrence estimated between 6000 and 7000 people turned up at the showgrounds in Oamaru to peruse the attractions at the weekend.
While the number of attendees did not top last year’s 160th anniversary A&P show, the livestock made up for it in their droves.
"Everything was up, except for the horses."
One of the most popular attraction was Pedalmania, a collection of weird and wacky bicycles free for people to try out.
There was also a fair share of informative stalls, including one hosted by Waitaki MP Miles Anderson and another run b a group protesting the fluoridation of the local water supply who set up right beside the Waitaki District Council tent.
It was the finale to his show, which included whips, diabolo tricks and comedy.
Three locals were invited to hold the 2.1m tall unicycle, while another was issued the task of throwing the performer on to the vehicle.
Once he was up and riding, a fifth audience member tossed him the three tools to juggle, then blew air on to his mullet from behind with a small industrial blower.
It was a trick only five or six people in New Zealand would be able to pull off, Mr Bonner said.
As a full-time circus performer he trained every day to ensure he was physically capable, could keep the audience engaged and safely perform his tricks.
Ensuring spectators had enjoyed the show was far more important than the calibre of his stunts and was his prime focus.
"That’s the whole thing. All of this becomes irrelevant", he said, motioning to the unicycle.
If even one person laughed at a joke or was wowed by a trick, then he considered it a success.
