Words by Annie Studholme. Images by Annie Studholme and Ben Doubleday.
Part of New Zealand’s rich rural history, since the first Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) show was held in the Bay of Islands in 1842, A&Ps were started to promote farming pursuits. The idea of these societies and shows came from Britain, where the first one was held in 1822.
In the beginning, farmers displayed their animals and crops to show excellence. By fostering friendly competition, the aim was to improve the quality of stock and produce and, therefore, the whole district.
As A&P shows grew in popularity, though, other competitions, attractions, and family entertainment were introduced, cementing them as an essential feature of community life for the district and the entire county. There are now 94 annual A&P shows across New Zealand; for many towns, it’s the biggest event of the year. No two shows are the same; they’re unique to every town. And that is certainly the case for Mayfield and Methven.
The Mayfield A&P Association will host its 98th show on Saturday, March 9, and the Methven A&P’s 108th will be held the following weekend on Saturday, March 16. In the face of dwindling interest, low entries and low attendance in other areas, these two shows continue to offer something for everyone, with lots to see and do.
The Mayfield A&P show’s story is one of progress. Following the footsteps of the Ashburton and Methven districts, the Mayfield A&P Association was formed in 1919 to look at the prospect of holding a show in Mayfield. Largely because of the boundless energy, initiative, and optimism of one man – Mr Donald Duff, who was elected inaugural president – the first show went ahead on April 8, 1920. Backed by a dedicated core committee (many of the families that are still involved to this day), it attracted 626 entries across the sheep, cattle, horse and pony, dogs, pigs, poultry, home industries and juvenile sections; even more impressive when you consider it was only open to residents from within the Mayfield District.
What had been an enormous gamble had paid off. Crowds flocked through the gates, and all enjoyed the day. By the following year, entries had doubled and before long, the Mayfield show had cemented a reputation for being one of the best district shows in the province. It not only improved the stock quality in the district but played an essential role in increasing the cooperation and understanding between urban and rural communities.
A favourite amongst exhibitors and the community, the committee was enterprising, constantly adding new events and attractions to pull the crowds, a feature that has become a hallmark of the show over the past 98 years.
In the early days, this included the likes of driving and horse-harnessing competitions for ladies, car driving for all, tilting the ring for motorcycles, solo and side-chair, sheaf throwing, chain stepping, and weight judging. While the sections remained the same, the committee introduced a new Schools’ Agricultural Clubs section in the 1930s. A rabbit section also briefly appeared but was scrapped several years later.
After being hit hard during the war years, the Mayfield A&P Show was resurrected in 1946 after a five-year absence, with solid entries and attendance reaching well over 3,000. It was then hit with poor weather and the abandonment of the show in 1948 due to the polio epidemic. But despite some tough times, inspired by those that had come before them, the committee rallied, determined to put on a great spectacle for exhibitors and the public alike.
That sense of legacy is not lost on this year’s Mayfield A&P president, Ben Morrow. Ben’s family have been involved in the association since the start. Both his parents have been long-time committee members and served at the helm. His father, Mark Morrow, was president in 1993, and his mother, Nicky, took on the role in 2007. Mark was integral in getting the show’s world-famous pig racing off the ground. He was responsible for the training back then, whereas that task has fallen on Ben’s brothers-in-law this year. A staunch supporter of the show, putting in entries every year, Nicky has been made patron this year.
Having grown up surrounded by such a strong involvement in the show, it surprised no one that Ben joined the committee about 10 years ago. While stepping up as president had come sooner than Ben anticipated, he’s proud to continue such a long family tradition.
Although the show has changed dramatically in 98 years, he says its core functions remain unchanged. It is still an important way to showcase the district, unite the entire community, and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities.
“It’s a great opportunity to get everyone in the community together, allowing people to catch up with neighbours, friends, and family. When you are busy farming, you often don’t see your neighbours, and especially in tough times it is so important to talk to others and realise everyone else is facing similar challenges. Along those lines, this years' theme is rural mental health, and we are lucky to have celebrity presenter Matt Chisholm from Rural Support Trust coming to the show.”
Mayfield epitomises your small, rural show. While it’s small enough that it has a great, safe, family-friendly environment, it boasts some unique attractions such as the pig racing and the tractor pull, as well all the regular favourites like horses, cattle and sheep, shearing, arts and crafts, scavenger hunt, the pet tent, trade stalls, produce, food, and live entertainment.
“It’s a busy show with many little things going on. It punches well above its weight,” says Ben.
Like their forebears before them, the committee remains progressive. “We are constantly thinking about having a point of difference to entice more people through the gate. That’s what was behind the pig racing initially, but they proved such a crowd-pleaser we have never got rid of them.”
Since 2018, Mayfield has also run a successful tractor pull event, attracting more than 50 tractors across several sections. It is now part of a nationwide circuit. The following year, they also added the tug-o-war competition with people against a Clydesdale team, which had also proved popular.
New for this year is a digger competition where they’re asking local contractors to put their skills and tricks to the test. Ben says in time they may consider making it part of a circuit if there’s sufficient interest. “This year is very much a test, but we’re hopeful.”
“We have to keep thinking outside the box. We are worried that if we don’t have something new, we’d just become another statistic and just wind up. And none of us want that to happen. As a district, we are not that big. We are indebted to all our sponsors; without them, we couldn’t run the show. So many people put in a lot of work, from the horse convenor to the Lions’ on the BBQ. The whole committee works tirelessly to make it a success, but we need the community to support it.”
Two years from its centennial show, Ben says the focus is on keeping it cash-positive so it can invest back into the A&P grounds and ensure this great event can continue for years. “We need to invest in infrastructure to help safeguard it for the future. Last year we were lucky, we had a perfect day and made a small profit. But it’s very weather-dependent. Without the gate takings, we struggle to make a profit on a rain-affected day. A big shed would help.”
Ben encourages everyone, young and old, to get behind this wonderful community-focused event and come out on March 9 to enjoy everything it offers.
Seven days after the Mayfield A&P show, it’s the Methven district’s turn to shine, and though there are many similarities, the Methven A&P (March 16) is unique in its own right.
This year marks its 108th show and along with the famous Methven Ute Muster (started in 2021), the Art Precinct, which showcases local artists, is set to return this year after making its first appearance in 2023. It also boasts a full programme of events across the more traditional sheep, wool, wood chopping, shearing, equestrian, dancing, dog trials, poultry, dairy goats, and home industries sections. There is also Spud In A Bucket and colouring in competitions for the children, as well as pony rides, face painting, balloon twisting, and the ever-popular animal petting shed.
The Methven A&P Association was founded in 1911 to further the agricultural interests of the district, educate farmers by promoting the discovery of new varieties of grain and other edible plants, encourage the best mode of cultivation, and improve livestock. While some saw the move as premature, thinking it would be unable to compete or compare with older, more established associations, an enthused group forged ahead, and the first Methven show was held at the Methven Domain on April 11, 1912, with Mr Alexander Orr as president.
The show then moved to the Mt Harding Racecourse until moving to the current showgrounds on Barkers Road after purchasing the land in 1920 at 65 pounds per acre. Millichamps drew up a plan for tree planting and fencing. Progress on the new grounds was slow. Just before the 1928 show, Mr Orr died, leaving a bequest of 500 pounds to erect a building on the showgrounds, meaning a pavilion could be built. Designs were done, and by January 1929, the Shearer Brothers’ tender of 994 pounds was accepted. To their credit, they completed the iron and concrete building in months. The first show on the new grounds was held on March 27, 1929.
Competitions on show day have included sheaf tossing, chain stepping, motor car driving competition (started in 1913, deleted in the 1920s), a troop horse class in 1917, and a soldiers’ work collection (cane and leather work) and military section (deleted in 1938), the ploughman’s lunch in the cooking section, wool classes, shearing competitions, wood chopping, spinning and knitting displays, the lamb cuts, and chiller beef competition. The sheep, cattle, and horse sections have remained a mainstay of the show. They were there at the beginning and still attract solid entries today.
Aside from the annual show, in line with its original objectives, Methven A&P has also run the flock ewe competition, the A&P draught horse committee to select stallions for use around the district, the ram fairs, the stacking competition, ploughing matches, lucerne plot competitions, winter feed competitions, dairy heifer competitions, wheat competitions, and gift lamb competitions. In later years, it started a caravan park and camping ground onsite, while the grounds have also been used for football and rugby training.
Early on, the Methven A&P was also a voice on national issues. In 1912, it sent a letter to the government of the day in support of the “Keep Our Ports Open” campaign. Four years later, they wrote again to protest on how New Zealand meat was sold on the London market. Again, in the 1930s, the committee wrote to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns over the use of imported whale oil (used as a gearbox lubricant) and its damage to the tallow industry. Local issues were also aired at A&P committee meetings.
Though the delivery is slightly different, that issue-centric focus has morphed into having a theme for each year’s show in recent years. Following last year’s successful theme of “Rural Wellbeing”, which included free blood pressure and hearing checks on show day, this year’s theme is “Getting Involved in Your Community”, zeroing in on all the community groups and activities Methven offers.
It’s one area dear to this year’s Methven A&P president, Irishman Trevor Monson. “You just don’t realise what’s there until you start looking. Methven has everything from sports clubs, like rugby, cricket, and squash, to the local Fire Brigade. Joining one of those groups is a great way of meeting people if you’re new coming into town.” As Trevor well knows, having immigrated from Ireland in 1998.
Having progressed through the dairy industry, he now farms outside Methven’s town boundary. He joined the committee 13 years ago to meet people and get more community involvement. “It’s been fantastic. I love the people that I mix with. We all support each other. There is no pressure. It’s family first, work, then the committee. A lot of effort goes into pulling off the show, but we have a lot of fun along the way.”
Trevor puts the show’s ongoing success down to Methven’s strong community spirit, something which hasn’t wavered since its first show in 1912.
But even with the colossal support it receives from local businesses and exhibitors to volunteers’ dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm, he admits the show would be nothing without the public. While it has its loyal supporters who turn out in their droves year-on-year to catch up with neighbours, friends and family, being only an hour from Christchurch and Geraldine, it’s the perfect distance for those from further afield who are keen for a great day out.
“People just love coming back to the show for an action-packed day,” says Trevor. “It’s a nice free-flowing show with something in every corner of the showgrounds. There is always something going on – never a dull moment. When you think about it, the list of events and attractions is never-ending. There is something for everyone.”
Over the past century, A&P shows have become a significant feature of the agricultural landscape. Started originally as a way to celebrate excellence and improve the quality of the produce and livestock, A&P shows have become much more. They unite communities and entertain all people and interests, not just farming enthusiasts.
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