The Methven A&P Show theme of ''Recreation in and around the Methven District'' highlighted regional recreational opportunities. Among the activities displayed were 4WD, football, mountain biking and restoring vintage machinery.
The theme was chosen by Methven A&P Show president Simon Wilson.
It was an attempt to let farmers know about some of the opportunities available in the area to give them off-farm interests.
Despite wet forecast conditions, hundreds flocked to the Methven Showgrounds on March 16 to enjoy the 105th annual event.
They also took time, just prior to the grand parade, to think of the people affected by the mosque shootings in Christchurch the day earlier.
The Methven Vintage Club members ran shuttles from the main show area to take people to the recreation site.
They used both a Leyland fire engine and a tractor pulling a trailer with hay bales for people to sit on.
Around the site the various participating recreational groups had set up displays of activities available in the region, including a makeshift 4WD track.
Among the usual A&P show events there was heaps of family entertainment, with the popular sheep colouring competition, an animal shed where children could get close to a variety of animals, side shows and food stalls.
There was also wood chopping, shearing, Highland dancing and judging of equestrian, dairy goats and sheep, as well as a wide selection of home produce competitions to view, plus a number of new classes such as the ''Morning tea for the office'' class, won by staff from BNZ.
The Methven Show A&P committee in-house competition to grow the biggest marrow was won by Murray and Gemma Redmond.
The grand parade, led by the Ashburton Pipe Band, included a lolly scramble.
