Event promotions spokesperson David Wood says planning for the annual show began in the middle of last year, but due to the uncertainty that has plagued many events since then, this year’s programme at Manfeild in Feilding has been scaled back.
However, Wood says organisers are hopeful in years to come the event will fulfill its potential and become the biggest breed show in NZ, and that this year’s event will kick-start that future.
The programme begins with youth handlers at 5pm on Tuesday, along with the youth dry stock section and the junior champion and reserve champion.
Wednesday is the dry stock section. The day also includes the NZ Dairy Breeds Federation World Wide Sires all breeds junior judging competition and the PGG Wrightson Summer Sensation Sale.
Wood says because there has been a smaller number of cows than usual offered for this year’s sale, it will be held as a silent auction.
Thursday features the in-milk classes, along with the all NZ breed supreme for each breed section followed by the all breeds supreme section.
The day winds up with the Wilbour Trophy competition, where each breed can enter a team of four.
As usual, the youth events are a big focus of the event, acknowledging that young people are the industry’s future.
“It’s about getting young people involved in stock handling and encouraging them in that endeavour,” he said.
“We want to be able to retain them but before that we have got to produce passionate breeders of the future.”
Youth exhibitor classes are 5 to 10 years old, 11 to 15 years, 16 to 19 years and 20 to 25 years.
