PROGRESSIVE FARMING AREA

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31005, 10 March 1966, Page 20

PROGRESSIVE FARMING AREA

The Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral Association will hold its forty-first annual show’ on Saturday. With near-record entries of 3343, and a very successful farming season, the association anticipates the same public support which has made successive shows the biggest event of the year in the Mayfield district. The annual show reflects the devotion of the association’s members to the land and to its prod uce.

From its first shows, held in paddocks on Mr Raymond Oakley’s property near the present showgrounds, the association has steadily developed. Now its showgrounds are a fitting place to exhibit the best of Canterbury’s livestock and the most modern farm machinery. Big extensions to the showgrounds are planned W’ithin the next years, with the aim of making the annual shows comparable with any in Canterbury. The first Mayfield show was held on April 8,1920. Much of the credit for its organisation went to Mr Donald Duff, who called a public meeting in the band hall in Mayfield on June 21, 1919. From this public meeting, was formed the Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The first committee of the association comprised Messrs D. G. Wright (patmn), D. Duff (president) and D. O. Sewell (treasurer). Mr M. Sewell acted as secretary to the association until Mr E. C. Withell was appointed.

A large entry of 630 was attracted by the first show, embracing more than 200 classes in livestock, produce, and other sections. The show was an outstanding success.

> the large variety of special attractions including men’s i and women’s horse-driving , competitions, women’s horseharnessing contests, car-driv-ing competitions, and sheaf-

| throwing contests. I After holding several shows I on Mr Oakley’s property, the | association purchased four s acres of land in 1926 and I built a large produce shed. I The erection of the shed enI abled the produce section of | the 1927 show to be exhibited under a roof, instead of the i marquee tent of previous I years. In the last 13 years, the association has made great

I strides. It now possesses 15 i acres of land, on which are ! offices, a grandstand, sheds • for exhibits and public amenities. More than 175 sheep pens have been erected

in recent years and last year s horse stalls were built. e Part of the associationu's r finance for development of 1 the show grounds comes from I. seven acres of ground, bought - in 1962, and which has been f cropped each season. 1 The association plans to ! erect a new permanent show 5 ring and to provide an attractive tree and shrub-lined j approach to the show grounds t from Mayfield township.