Words by Annie Studholme
The countdown is on to the Canterbury A&P Show next week, and at its helm is Ruralco’s own, Brent Chamberlain.
Both humbled and honoured to be president for the 162nd running of the event, which features a unique combination of agriculture and entertainment, Brent marks the fourth Chamberlain to hold the position over its stellar history. “It’s a real honour and privilege, but when you’re dealing with such an iconic event, it comes with its own challenges and responsibility,” he says.
Brent’s history with the Canterbury A&P dates back to the late 1970s when he helped show cattle for his then-employer. He progressed to head steward of the cattle section for many years before becoming chair of the sheep section. He was elected to the general committee about 15 years ago. Brent’s passionate about seeing the A&P movement continue for future generations through the next hundred and something years.
Despite several years of challenges, Brent’s confident this year’s show is on track to be one of the best. Coming off the back of tough Covid-19 years financially, last year the A&P Show Association initially cancelled the show, citing financial troubles, but, under pressure from the general committee, with help from events management company Event Hire, and support from the Christchurch City Council, the board was largely replaced, and a reduced event went ahead. Despite the tight time frame, it was hailed as a success, giving the new board and general committee confidence to press ahead with plans for this year’s show.
“The new board and the committee have been working well together, and we have a clear direction for the future. We have gone back to the basics of what A&Ps were started for, focussing on bringing country to town and a strong determination to keep quality livestock competitions.”
Going back a generation, everyone had a link to the rural community, whereas now those links are minimal, explains Brent. “Shows are critical for the education side of things. It gives people the chance to see everything in one place and experience all facets of rural life. For some people, the only place they see an animal is at the show. It not only gives people a chance to see where their produce comes from, but it’s crucial in strengthening the relationship between rural and urban.”
Traditionally held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Canterbury’s NZ Cup and Show Week, this year it has been moved to Thursday, Friday and Saturday (November 13, 14 & 15). By pushing the show to Saturday, he says it not only gives the general public a second non-working day to attend in addition to the Friday ‘Show Day’ on Canterbury Anniversary Day but will possibly spread out the traffic management as well. It will also significantly improve the chances of full gate attendance and a profitable event if it rains on Friday. The livestock will remain onsite right until Saturday, with Grand Parades held on both Friday and Saturday to ensure no one misses out.
For the first time in more than a decade, the prestigious Royal Agricultural and Pastoral Show of New Zealand (Royal A&P Show) also returns this year. Described as the pinnacle of the show calendar, with higher stakes and the most prestige, Canterbury hosted its first Royal A&P in 1925 and its last in 2010.
Brent says receiving royal status helps cement its place as the country’s premier A&P Show. There is a lot of prestige for exhibitors who win at a Royal Show, as illustrated by the strong entries, especially in the livestock sections. At entries close, they have an impressive 380 dairy cattle entries, 267 beef cattle entries and more than 700 sheep entries, all up on last year, while equestrian entries are around the 1,700 mark.
The trade section has also been well supported, with more than 400 sites, including major exhibitors such as Silver Fern Farms, Ravensdown, and Ballantynes, all attending. Brent was also incredibly grateful to Ruralco, which had stepped up as a trade exhibitor for the very first time. “We have been really humbled by the support. All the key rural businesses are supporting us,” says Brent.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest attractions this year was the Wool Zone, back bigger and better than ever — a development Brent was particularly proud of, given his passion for wool. “The Wool Zone is unique to New Zealand. Wool was always going to play a major part. It’s been four years in the making.” This year, the wool is being showcased in its own marquee, alongside more than 30 dedicated trade sites. There will also be fashion parades of wool garments in the shearing pavilion at lunchtime, on both Friday and Saturday.
The ever-popular City Farmyard, where young children can get up close and personal with young animals, will be a drawcard again, as will be the traditional favourites like the sheep dog trials, pipe bands, shearing, Shetland pony racing, a Clydesdale display, and other equestrian events. A South Island versus New South Wales test match is a new addition over the three days in the woodchopping, along with a Cowboy Challenge competition for horse and rider completing a series of tasks, to be held in the RDA indoor arena, as well as a farrier competition.
Both Brent and his wife, Wendy, have a long history with the A&P movement, with Wendy recently serving as president of their local Courtenay A&P Show at Kirwee. They both hail from farming families.
Brent grew up on a mixed cropping, sheep and beef farm at Russells Flat, near Sheffield. He had always dreamed of being a farmer, but after his parents sold up during the 1980s downturn, he had to look elsewhere. Having completed a Diploma of Agriculture from Lincoln University, he initially sold insurance before joining the animal health sector as an area manager for Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy (later Novartis Animal Health), selling products to veterinary practices, farming co-operatives and rural supplies stores.
During his 20-year career with the company, he held numerous roles. He was involved in the trial and subsequent launch of Zolvix sheep drench, the first in a new class of anthelmintics (called Amino-Acetonitrile Derivatives or AADs) for treating gastrointestinal worms in sheep and is effective against strains resistant to older drenches, as well as Clik, an insect growth regulator (IGR) product designed to prevent blowfly strike.
After a brief interlude working as operations manager on a large-scale dairy farm, Brent worked as animal health manager for Ravensdown for five years before taking up his current position as On-Farm Account Manager at Ruralco.
All the way through, Brent’s passion for sheep hasn’t diminished. He and his wife, Wendy, live on 4 hectares at Darfield, where he runs 60 Dohne merino, as well as leasing and grazing other nearby blocks. The Dohne hails from South Africa, with the breed dating back to the 1930s. They produce 18-22 micron wool. He sells the lambs as hoggets. “That keeps my hand in farming.”
Wendy also comes from a rural background, as a member of the Jenkins family behind the famed Floridale Angus Stud. They are also avid gardeners, with their garden boasting more than 100 varieties of rhododendron. When they’re not in the garden, they also enjoy jetboating, camping and fishing, or spending time with their three adult children, Renee, Matt and Julia, and three grandchildren.
As part of Ruralco’s On-Farm team, Brent’s days are varied. Mainly covering the area north of the Rakaia River, he is out on the road, visiting sheds, walking paddocks and checking in with a range of clients across sheep, beef, mixed cropping and dairy farms. He also looks after Ruralco’s BOOST Mineral Blend range, a specifically formulated, high-quality livestock health and nutritional supplement.
“Looking after the customer is number one, getting them what they need, whether it’s giving them advice on the ag chemicals or seed, or ordering minerals. Each day can be different. It’s that variety which makes each day special.”
Brent enjoys meeting new clients but equally enjoys seeing the new generations coming through. During his decades of experience, he’s witnessed first-hand the cyclical nature of the agriculture industry. “That inter-generational stuff we get to see; that’s quite special.” He also gets a real kick out of sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise with others, whether it’s with clients or younger members of the Ruralco team.