Ag Show to connect city and country

THE Bendigo Agricultural Show is back on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October for the one hundred and fifty-sixth time and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

As per tradition, members of the public can enter a long list of competitions as part of the show, including cooking, jams and preserves, needlework, knitting and crochet, crafts and hobbies, lego, art and photography, to name a few.

The woodchop, Bute Utes, dogs, birds, agricultural produce, livestock, saddle horses and showjumping competitions will also be hotly contested.

Ian Furze, executive officer at the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society said preparations are going along “swimmingly” following the most successful show ever held last year.

He said particular highlights in 2024 will include the popular Kids Zone, in partnership with Discovery Science and Technology Centre, and the Young Farmers Challenge relay event.

“We’re also running as a part of the week the Bendigo Baking Showdown, which we’re aiming to develop into Victoria’s biggest baking show,” he said.

“We’re hoping to attract entries from across Victoria and make it the premier baking event for professional bakers in the State.

“What we’re (ultimately) aiming to do this year is to provide the Bendigo community, both the regional community and the agricultural community, with a platform to showcase all the strengths of the area in the agricultural sector.

“It’s also about making sure that the connection between the agricultural base and the community is maintained.

“That’s our primary purpose – to make sure that those traditions are celebrated.”

Tickets can be pre-purchased at a discount on the Bendigo Agricultural Show website. Children aged 12 years and under can enter for free.