More than 44,000 people are believed to have passed through the Wanaka A&P Show gates between Friday and Saturday. While this number was fairly consistent with past shows, Upper Clutha A&P Society chairman Keith Cooper said there were signs attendees this year had come with a greater willingness to spend money.
"I’m told, by the various exhibitors I’ve spoken to, many people are talking about their sales being up 40%."
He said the society had been focused on bolstering the agricultural side of the show, in the interests of honouring their "forebears’ wishes of bringing Upper Clutha rural to town".
A key part of this was the farm wool fleece competition.
"I’m told, by the experts, it’s one of the best displays in the world of fine wool, which is great for New Zealand, and Upper Clutha, to be showing off."
Mr Cooper said the society would continue to find ways to innovate the annual event, giving people plenty of reasons to return to Wānaka year after year.
Wanaka’s two-day agricultural and pastoral extravaganza is the second largest in the South Island, behind the Christchurch Show.
It began at 8.30am on Friday and continued until 5pm on Saturday.
This year, show organisers celebrated a record number of fine-wool fleece entries.
They received 236 entries for coveted industry awards in the New Zealand Fine Wool Supreme Fleece competition, launched by the show last year.
Judges said they were blown away by the quality of fleeces and interest from 53 properties across the South Island, many of whom have contracts with internationally recognised brands such as Mons Royale, Smartwool, Devold, Icebreaker, First Lite and Global Merino.
Judge Craig Smith said the award was "New Zealand’s gold medal of New Zealand fine-wool fleeces".
"It’s an opportunity to show the rest of the world how good our wool is from the original source — stud farms and flock properties."
"I’ve never said this before and I don’t say this lightly, but I think we will have a perfect, 100-point fleece in this competition."
Three top international agricultural judges are at the show, Australian sheep farm manager David Zouch, New South Wales sheep stud owner John Bensley and England-based equestrian judge Sarah Smith.
Wānaka A&P Show livestock manager Fe Howie said the show was delighted to be hosting the judges, who brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event.
"All are experts in their categories and I’m sure they will provide some valuable feedback for this year’s entrants."
The Wānaka A&P Show is one of New Zealand’s largest agricultural and pastoral events, attracting more than 44,000 people and bringing more than $28million worth of direct economic benefit to the town.
A wide range of activities were on display, including equestrian and livestock events, home industry displays, wool classing, wood chopping, shearing, dog trials, the Jack Russell race and old-fashioned sheaf tossing.
By Regan Harris and Marjorie Cook
