Seymour Show set to go on

Seymour Agricultural and Pastoral Society president Jason Ronald and secretary Pam Beerens are pleased with the preparation for the Seymour Show, despite uncertainty surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

The annual show is on at Kings Park from 4pm to 9pm on October 1 and 9am to 4pm on October 2.

The Friday night will include bands and singers, carnival rides, games and competitions, as well as show bags, fairy floss and hotdogs.

The highlight of the evening will be the spectacular fireworks display.

All the pavilions will be open so there will be a great deal to do as well as plenty of food stalls.

Social distancing will be required, and there will be QR code check-in stations and sanitisers aplenty around the showgrounds.

On Saturday the horses, beef cattle, alpacas, poultry and dogs will be judged and there will be entertainment around the grounds, including the yard dog trials, the chainsaw sculptor and camel rides.

The popular animal nursery will be there, as well as the dog high jump, an Australian wildlife display, a sheep display, the sheep shearing competition and championship wood chopping.

Competitions in the pavilions include photography, art, Lego, wool, baking, preserves, needlework and craft, produce, plants and flowers. To enter, visit: seymouragshow. org.au

Special attention will be given this year to the Victorian Agricultural Shows competitions including rich fruit cake, boiled fruit cake, carrot cake and carrot and date muffins, as well as embroidery, cross stitch, patchwork and state sewing, crochet and knitting competitions.

There are also plenty of junior competitions including photography and art.

Entry to the show will be by pre-purchased tickets and details will be available closer to the show.

Schedules are available around the district and online at: seymouragshow.org.au

The Victorian Government is offering a total of $300,000 for agricultural societies across Victoria as part of an annual fund to support shows.

Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas officially opened the Agricultural and Pastoral Society Grants Program for this year, with grants of up to $10,000 available to successful applicants.

Grants can be used for a range of purposes, including to implement COVID-safe measures and support the use of technology to encourage remote participation in show activities.

Earlier this year the government announced 46 recipients from the 2020 program, which shared in almost $300,000.

Recipients used the grants for a range of initiatives, including purchasing a grandstand, extending a shearing pavilion, providing sanitiser stations, the installation of solar panels and the purchase of portable animal yards.

The Victorian Agricultural Shows organisation said the grant funding had been the same for a number of years and it was hoping for more support this year due to so many show cancellations.