Creativity shines during covid for NSW ag shows

The Agricultural Societies Council of New South Wales today announced the two agricultural show finalists for innovation of the year. 

Tim Capp, President of the ASC of NSW, says this award is for innovation whether it is an event, a campaign, advancements in technology, procedural changes, intellectual concepts, or environmental practice that has taken the shows to the next level.

The two finalists focussed on innovations in entertainment and education respectively.

Mungindi Show Society has been recognised for their header and cotton picker demolition derby.

“The demolition derby is an event like no other in NSW! A cotton picker and combine harvester duke it out at a demolition derby that was part of the annual Mungindi Show,” Mr Capp said. 

“The show society wanted to give the community an enjoyable event to lift spirits while also promoting local cotton and crop growers who provide their machinery and time to support the annual show. They invented the header and cotton picker demolition derby and it was a huge attraction, generating increased gate takings.” 

“It provided interaction and entertainment featuring the region’s considerable cotton industry.”

Blayney Agricultural and Pastoral Association Inc has been recognised for their young judging student workshops and competition day.  These are workshops run for students who learn about appraising and judging beef cattle, meat sheep, fleeces, grain judging, public speaking/judging talk formulation. The education section is followed by a young judges competition in the afternoon.

“Blayney Show is a one day show. Over the years the beef cattle competition has grown so big that the cattle judging as well as the young paraders and beef judging competitions could not all be held on that day.  So, for four years beef cattle competitions could not be held at the show, leaving a big gap for student education through the popular young judges competitions,” Mr Capp explained.

“To bridge the gap and provide a learning event where students could develop skills, knowledge, and confidence to become engaged in young judges competitions, the show society partnered with the NSW DPI Schools Program to develop a young judging education day for local students.”

“The first young judging student workshops and competition day was so successful it is now an annual event.” 

The winning show society will receive $3,500 on 19 June 2021 at the NSW State Conference themed “Adapt, Sustain, Grow” for agricultural shows, with shows joining digitally from ten regional locations.