The Waikari couple have returned for a second year as co-presidents, after the 2020 show was cancelled because of Covid-19.
The Sidey family’s links to the Hawarden A&P Association date back to the show’s origins in 1907, when Mr Sidey’s great-great-grandfather, James Little, was the association’s first show president.
Mr Little developed the Corriedale sheep breed while managing a property in North Otago in the 1860s.
He later moved north to the Waikari area, laying the foundations for the Strathblane Corriedale Stud, now farmed by the Sideys.
Strathblane Corriedale stud sheep have won the supreme champion wool sheep several times over the years at the Canterbury A&P Show.
Today, the Sideys farm on the western outskirts of the North Canterbury township of Waikari with their daughters Hannah and Millie, both high school pupils at Hurunui College.
Mr Sidey also has two adult children, Tom, an air force officer, and Ella, a primary school teacher.
The family runs 250 stud ewes and farms cattle on the property. They also breed and train working dogs.
Two years ago, Mr Sidey sent rams to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, and has judged sheep in the region.
Last year, he was due to travel to Brazil and Uruguay for judging, but his plans were thwarted by Covid-19.
The Sideys have farmed the Waikari property for 13 years, while Mr Sidey previously worked at Glen Rock in the Rakaia Gorge, and managed Waitohi Hills, near Hawarden, for about 12 years before coming to Strathblane.
An enthusiastic dog triallist, Mr Sidey won the South Island drive and yard competition at Blenheim last year with his dog, Ace, and planned to compete at this year’s Hawarden show.
Working alongside her husband on the farm ‘‘is a dream come true’’, said Mrs Sidey, a former vet nurse, who has studied farming and worked on farms in Germany and during her OE.
The couple were also keen supporters of their daughters’ hobbies. Hannah (14) is active in dog training , obedience and agility, while Millie (13) is a keen horse rider.
