THE WINTON SHOW

Southland Times, Issue 24603, 27 November 1941, Page 8

THE WINTON SHOW

FINE EXHIBITION ASSURED SPLENDID ENTRIES RECEIVED Excellent entries have been received for the Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s annual show to be held at Winton on Saturday, and competition will be as strong as ever. The public is assured of an exhibition of Southland’s best, and the comprehensive programme of competitions in the afternoon promises to be an attractive feature. In the sideshow department the fun of the fair will be provided again this year by the district patriotic committees, which will conduct the sideshows for soldiers’ parcels. Many sideshows have been arranged, and the amateur showmen promise the public varied entertainment.

The following is a comparison of the entries with those for the two previous shows:—

TOTALS 689 598 590 The totals over six years are as follows:—l936, 573; 1937, 596; 1938, 678; 1939, 689; 1940, 598; 1941, 590. The total will be increased by the competition entries, which are received on show day. SCHOOL ESSAY COMPETITION There were six entries in the class for the school essay on the Winton show catalogue and the prize-winners were as follows: Pearl Stenhouse (Winton District High School) 1, Dorothy Williams (Winton) 2, Nancy Gerrard (Winton) 3. The winning essay was as follows:— As show time was nearing, I decided to visit uncle; hoping to find him grooming his prize draughts. When I arrived, I found him dashing here and there with buckets of water, currycombs and brushes. He looked as if things were not going at all well; and I was rather nervous about these symptoms, whether to ask him what he thought about show-time.

I waited till he cooled down before I put my question before him; and I gave a sigh of relief when he calmly sat down and began to explain the various matters. He said that show time was the most exciting time in the year, but very annoying when things did not go right. He told me that grooming the horses takes a considerable amount of time, when there is so much work to be done on the farm. The horses, after being groomed and polished, deliberately go out and roll in the mud; that, he said, is the most annoying thing of all, and, of course it means starting over again. I left uncle to carrry on his preparations, and went to see aunty. As I walked towards the house, I could smell the delightful fragrance of cooking. Entering the kitchen, I found the table laden with sponges, shortbread, fruit cakes and a variety of scones. Aunty said that this time of the year was her busiest, as she did a large amount of show baking. Despite the fact of frayed tempers, aunty said that show time was very exciting, as the spirit of competition, and the honour of being a prize-winner, added zest to the preparation. I left aunty to attend to her cooking, and went to see what Peggy was doing. Two pet lambs were being combed and brushed; and they did not seem to enjoy having their toilet done. I asked Peggy what she thought about show time. She said that washing the lambs was the most tedious job of all; but the benefit was very satisfatcory. She said she would be very content if the lambs came home wearing the champion ribbons; and she would feel well rewarded for her long and monotonous job. I departed from Drummond almost wishing I was a farmer’s daughter, so that I could prepare something for the Winton Show.

1939 1940 1941 Draught horses 40 45 43 Light horses 105 82 81 Ponies 66 74 67 Cattle 63 58 30 Sheep 200 195 157 Produce 28 15 28 Baking 179 123 168 Dogs 8 6 16