By Brendan Rees
From livestock, to cooking, crafts and vintage farming machinery – there was something for everyone during the two days of jam-packed fun at the 169th Annual Berwick Agricultural Show.
Thousands of people poured into the Akoonah Park showgrounds to see dozens of exhibits last weekend.
The event also featured competitions, demonstrations entertainment and food.
For those wanting a taste of what life was like on the farm more than a century ago, there was a grand display of old water pumps, generators, and gasoline engines.
Port Phillip’s Historical Machinery Society member Nick Fuller says it was important for children to learn about the region’s historic machinery.
“These are made over a hundred years ago before they had power on the farms,” he said.
“It is important to understand what people did years ago. Some kids don’t even know where milk comes from.”
“Some of them (children) have never been to a farm; they don’t know what happens on a farm.”
Drawing a large crowd nearby was the sheep show with the judging of short wool and long wool stud sheep.
Berwick Show Society life member Mike Vallence, who has been involved in the sheep show since 1977, says it was vital that schools continued to be a part of the exhibition.
“It’s great to see how many kids are here,” he said.
“Without the schools running these agricultural sections then there’s nobody to take over and keep breeding sheep; that interest disappears.”
The sheep show’s organiser’s Kane Hildred and his partner Bridget Lehy said there was about 160 sheep in the shed on Saturday and was passionate about giving the students from a variety schools a go.
“It’s good to see them out here – these sheep are their pride and joy,” said Mr Hildred.
At the cattle display, Loch farmer Noelene King proudly displayed her first prize winning Charolais beef cattle named ‘Huon Charnelle’ which took out a whopping four awards including Best Beef Inter-Bred Beef.
“It’s pretty emotional. There’s a lot of effort that goes into it,” said Ms King.
“They’re white so it’s cleaning them, clipping them; it’s a big thing.”
She said the judges loved her cattle’s femininity: “They just said she was just so well put together.”
Sixteen year-old James Barton of Mt Martha was thrilled to collect two beef cattle awards including Best Junior Handler and the Marty Alberni Herdsperson award.
“It was good, especially after last night going back-to-back, that felt very good,” said James, who displayed his 23 month-old Charolais named ‘Hazledowns Miss Panache’.
On the main arena, crowds gathered for the popular horse show where Adele Garraway of Heath Hill took out the most prestigious prize- the Grand Supreme Led of the Show with her two year-old Shetland named ‘Moondara Park Whisper’.
“It was a privilege to win it. Not very often does a little one win it,” said Ms Garraway who won a $200 Horseland voucher and a rug.
Ms Garraway also won the Supreme Pinto award. “It’s more special because I bred her as well. There’s a great bond with us.”
Horse show judge Mitch Carrigan explained all Clydesdale and the stock horses “have to a temperament to do their job, so they’ve got to be calm, sensible.”
Alpacas were also a major attraction with families.
Victorian Alpaca Youth Group member Bill Burnett said the event gave the opportunity for young people to build their confidence.
“We’ve had some kids who had issues socially and when we’ve put them in with the alpacas and the confidence they’ve gain has just been amazing,” he said.
“(It’s) helping them build a bond between them and the animal”
He said the future of the Alpaca industry depended on today’s youth.
“It’s training them up while some go onto into being breeders themselves, others may do this for a short period of time.”
It wasn’t all about livestock with exhibitors from the art and photography section showcasing an impressive display of pastel, oil, drawing, water colour, landscape and portraiture artworks.
City of Casey Cr Rex Flannery said the event was important for people from non-farming backgrounds to gain a greater understanding of agriculture.
“I think it’s essential that we bring the local shows back to the community so we don’t lose the heritage of farming.”
