Words by Annie Studholme, Images provided by the Ashburton A&P Association
As preparations for the 148th annual Ashburton A&P Show go into overdrive, President Ben Stock is urging the community to get behind this year's event.
Serving as a vital link between urban and rural communities, the show not only celebrates farming success and showcases the best food, fibre, livestock, and equestrian the region has to offer, but offers non-stop entertainment, food, and fun for both adults and children alike with special activities related to its theme, "Cultivating Community".
Alongside the traditional agricultural events, Ben says the small tribe of volunteers has worked tirelessly to ensure there is something for everybody across all facets of the community, focusing on bringing in fresh and fun ideas.
Off the back of last year's successful inaugural event, the Celebrity Shear returns with the previous year's winner, DNA's Kim Reed, up against local identities vying for top honours. Also returning are the ever-popular animal tent, the Trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial Test series, and Clash of the Colleges, which is back bigger than ever with more than 240 kids taking part from 11 different schools throughout the region.
Early birds through the gate will once again be rewarded, with the show giving away 1,000 burgers, supported by local businesses Harvey's Bakehouse, Smoke Ashburton, and ANZCO Foods. In line with the show's theme, this has been expanded with Formosa getting in on the action together with Leaderbrands, offering free stir-fries, and the local Pacifica community hosting an umu/hangi with the food to be given away.
Other exciting additions to this year's programme include the region's first chilli eating competition, "Bootique" picnic sites on the edge of the main ring, and local young farmers' groups have teamed up to run a bark up competition where dogs (and even humans) compete for prizes across a variety of categories.
As always, though, it's the people and the community that make the show what it is, says Ben. "It is bigger than any one individual. There are so many people involved in putting on such a monumental event, and we really need the support from the local community, both individuals and businesses, to ensure it continues."
This year marks Ben's second year in the hot seat. Originally hailing from Gisborne, his wife Mary-Anne grew up in Amberley. The couple have called the district home for more than 20 years. After sharemilking around the South Island, they settled in Hinds, where they milk 700 cows on their fully irrigated property, while remaining involved in two other operations. With some wonderful people involved with the farms, Ben has been able to step back in recent years.
Encouraged onto the committee in 2020 by the late Victor Schikker, the immediate past president, Ben was handed the job of junior vice president within a heartbeat. He then served as senior vice president before assuming the role of president in early 2024.
He came in at a time when A&P shows across the country are facing challenges, including increasing operating and labour costs, ongoing COVID-19 impacts, limited financial reserves, difficulty attracting new volunteers, maintaining relevance in a changing society, and declining profitability. Despite best efforts, the Ashburton A&P has not been immune.
Like the rest of the committee, though, Ben was not only determined to see the show become financially stable but also to ensure it would remain there for generations to come, especially as it approached its 150th anniversary in two years.
"A&Ps are just too important. They're worth fighting for. For our generation, they are woven into the very fabric of our community. They're part of the Kiwi DNA."
Growing up, A&Ps were such a massive event for the local community. "Some of my greatest childhood memories are of the Poverty Bay A&P Show. We all remember going to the show in your new shirt that Mum bought you, spilling hot dog sauce all down it, getting sunburnt, and spending all your pocket money on the rides and the games. Every Kiwi can resonate with that."
A cornerstone of rural life, A&Ps bring together farming and non-farming communities across the urban-rural continuum, helping create connections. In the future, they will likely become even more critical in ensuring farmers obtain social license to farm.
Being president had certainly pushed him out of his comfort zone, but it had been a rewarding process to go through. "It's like nothing I have ever been involved in. It seems simple, but there are so many facets to it. The committee is always seeking individuals with innovative ideas and the energy to bring them to fruition.”
Ben will hand over the reins, knowing the show is on the right track. "There is an expectation that when you take on the role, you give 100 per cent, and I feel like I have. The hope is that you'll leave it in a better place than when you took over. The committee is confident we have managed to turn it around and are excited about the new trajectory."
The Ashburton A&P is on October 31 and November 1 at the Ashburton Showgrounds.