Lake Hayes A&P Show Photo: Jo Boyd
Awards for the best egg, most unusual pet and the most impressive dog trick are all up for grabs this weekend as the first A&P shows of 2023 get underway.
The last few years shows have been marred with Covid-19 related cancellations and disruptions and organisers say they're looking forward to a return to business as usual.
Tomorrow A&P societies are hosting events at Lake Hayes in Central Otago, as well as on Canterbury's Banks Peninsula and in the Buller District on the West Coast.
Lake Hayes A&P Show secretary, Rachel Norris, said after having to call off last year's show, it was great to be back.
"In January 2022, we're in quite a different places that are the country and still grappling with Covid, and in the midst of the pandemic... We made the decision along with a lot of other events at that time that it unfortunately wasn't going to be possible or the right thing to be trying to put on an event."
"Obviously, there's still certain considerations, but we're really looking forward to having a great event on Saturday."
Buller A&P show secretary Jenny Evans was also ecstatic to open the gates to visitors tomorrow, after last year the event was cancelled for the first time in 108 years.
She said many A&P societies relied on the revenue from their annual show to keep operating.
"[When the show is cancelled] you don't have that income coming in to restart yourself again and, we're lucky in the fact that we have a little nest egg, which we've had to go into to be able to start off this year's show."
While Covid-19 wasn't at the forefront of organiser's minds this year, 2023 had brought some fresh challenges.
Evans said problems finding enough unshorn sheep in the area meant this year the shearing competition was going to be adapted to a shearing display.
"For some reason, this year, which is quite laughable considering New Zealand is full of sheep, we can't actually find any sheep to shear."
Meanwhile, the nationwide egg shortage could see the annual egg toss scratched at the Devauchelle A&P show on the Banks Peninsula tomorrow.
Show president James Dwyer said while a final call on the egg toss was still up in the air, the competition for the best egg was definitely still going ahead.
"The egg section is that you judge your egg on its appearance and then the egg is cracked onto a saucer and then it's judged as its laid out raw."
Dwyer said other competition catergories included the best vegetable, best floral arrangement and best cake.
"It's just one of those little wee quirky things, because we just want people to come along and and to be involved."
At the Duvauchelle show there were also awards for the best dressed dog, best dog trick and best pet lamb and sheep, meanwhile about 75 horses and riders were set to compete in the equestrain events.
Banks Peninsula Pony Club president, Vicky Turner said children as young as five and six were taking part and excitement was building.
"They're really excited, I kind of felt obligated to ride and show as well, so I could, you know, do really good role modelling... And I think I'm more anxious than the children!"
Turner said the club was hosting a small riding camp at the showgrounds in the build-up to Saturday.
"The reason we had the camp here is to give the children an opportunity to see what it's like to go to a show because a lot of them haven't even and been to shows or competed or anything like that."
The showground gates will open at 8.30 tomorrow morning in Duvauchelle and Buller and 9am at Lake Hayes.