Middlemarch drew a big crowd for Strath Taieri’s 122nd A&P Show after a packed month of events.
Show committee secretary Didee Bradshaw said the township’s “always beautiful” weather helped bring people out on Sunday, as trade stalls and competition rings ran through the day.
What happened at the strath taieri A&P show in middlemarch
Ms Bradshaw said the annual show capped off a “full-on” period for the district, following the Otago Goldfields Cavalcade and the centenary of the Middlemarch Golf Club.
She said volunteers still turned up in force, even after weeks of organising and hosting visitors. “It's not about having your hand out,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“It's about bringing our community together,” she said. “I mean, we're no Wānaka. We will never be Wānaka.”
Ms Bradshaw said the crowd was strong and the stallholders were pleased. “But for us, it's been a really good crowd and all our trade stalls seem to be quite happy,” she said.
It's about bringing our community together. I mean, we're no Wānaka. We will never be Wānaka. But for us, it's been a really good crowd and all our trade stalls seem to be quite happy.
Why organisers say volunteers kept stepping up
The show depends on locals who can set up pens, marshal rings, coordinate judges, and keep the day moving. Ms Bradshaw said that support had not dropped away, even with multiple big dates on the calendar.
For a small township, one major event can stretch the same pool of helpers. Ms Bradshaw said Middlemarch had managed several in quick succession, with the A&P show finishing the run.
She said the recent events brought different groups into contact, from equestrian riders to stallholders and families travelling in for the day. That variety, she said, helped keep energy up as the month rolled on.
What families could do, from horses to best-dressed dogs
Children and families were a clear focus, with free entertainment offered during the day. “There's no reason why people in our community shouldn't bring their children along and bring their family along,” Ms Bradshaw said.
Among those taking part were Georgia Limbrick, 9, of Dunedin, who entered a best-dressed dog competition with Rusty. Lucy Lake, 9, of Clyde, rode her horse Sammy in the equestrian events.
Archer Smith, 6, of Mosgiel, was among younger attendees spotted taking a break between activities as crowds watched proceedings around the grounds.
Events like the Middlemarch show sit alongside other Otago fixtures that pull families out for a day trip, from motorsport to music. Dunedin has also seen strong turnouts for events such as the South Dunedin Street Festival, as organisers compete with rising costs and busy calendars.
How the strath taieri show has changed over 100 years
Ms Bradshaw said the show once leaned heavily toward traditional farming displays and formal committee culture. “We've got photos from 100 years ago of the committee, all the men in their suits, you know, sensible, but it's a bit different now,” she said.
“We've got a nice diverse committee,” she said. That shift has shaped what the show offers, including a stronger push for kid-friendly activities and a broader mix of stalls.
A&P shows remain a common rural touchpoint across New Zealand, with local societies often balancing heritage classes with newer competitions and attractions. The Ministry for Primary Industries outlines how the wider primary sector supports jobs and regional economies, a backdrop that helps explain why rural shows still draw interest.
When the next big milestone show is expected
Ms Bradshaw said planning was already turning to a bigger anniversary ahead. She said organisers were looking toward the 125th show as the next major milestone.
The 122nd show also arrived as Dunedin and Otago juggle multiple public projects and events through autumn, from coastal upgrades to large-scale community calendars. Work is due to begin soon on the St Clair seawall handrail replacement, another date many locals will have marked.
Ms Bradshaw said the focus now was on keeping the committee and volunteer base strong ahead of the anniversary planning. “The locals are turning out and we've had really good entries. it's a real testament to what a great community we live in,” she said.
Organisers expect the next Strath Taieri A&P Show to be held in March 2027, with the 125th anniversary show due three years later.
