Organisers pulled the pin on the show, just days out from their 106th annual event.
"Obviously we are gutted."
There had been a lot of work and effort by a lot of people to get ready for the show, he said.
But he was particularly thankful to the trades and sponsors who had opted to leave entry money in, as a way to support the association and keep it afloat.
"It’s really quite humbling," he said.
The Methven A&P Association runs other events during the year to help pay some bills but also to raise the profile of farming, or to raise money for community groups and individuals. They include an on-farm heifer competition, the annual wheat growing competition and a gift lamb auction, with lambs donated from farmer’s around the district.
Money from the auction, which will go ahead albeit in another form, also supports local services, organisations and tertiary education scholarships.
Mr Glass said the popular primary school Spud in a Bucket competition will also go ahead as usual, which was good news for the hundreds of pupils at local area schools.
The undisturbed buckets were due to be collected as usual and judged Friday morning. The results will be up at the A&P association pavilion at the showgrounds on Friday afternoon.
As in past years any unclaimed potatoes would be donated to aged-care facility Methven House.
Mr Glass said people who had entered the home industries competitions can also collect their submitted entries, such as art, photographs or paintings as well as any entry cost refunds, from organisers at the pavilion tomorrow. It will be open between 2pm and 5pm.
The Aorangi and Tasman FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional finals, also to have been held at the Methven show, have been postponed until further notice.
NZ Young Farmers chief executive officer Lynda Coppersmith said the new date would be confirmed later.
"It is for the safety of our competitors, staff and spectators and imperative that we don’t put anyone at risk and help prevent the spread of Covid-19."
