POULTRY SECTION

M: 027 249 5417

E: min.cookson@pggwrightson.co.nz

P: 03 318 8201 M: 027 434 0060

AsPoultryConvenorwhatis yourrole?Howmanyentrants doyouusuallyattract?

My role is to encourage entries, as well as set up and take down the cages and organise a judge. Typically we have around 100 entries, which is great. Somebackgroundtoyou takingonthisrole.Howlong haveyoudoneit?

I took over as Section Convenor nearly ten years ago as a way to support the Show and as a Poultry exhibitor myself to ensure the section was well organised and supported by the wider poultry exhibitor community.

Arethereanyspecialfeatures oradditionalclassesinthis sectionthisyear?

Not this year we are just looking forward to welcoming exhibitors back after last years Covid enforced cancellation, and building on 2021 when Gavin Greenwood with a Barred Rock won the inaugural Best Animal in Show prize. This was a great achievement for a poultry exhibitor, and hopefully raised the awareness of the section and exhibiting poultry as a hobby.

Onthedaywhatareyourduties?

Doyouhaveassistance?

On the day, it's simply welcoming exhibitors, supporting the judge and writing up prize cards. Those of us who are regular exhibitors of poultry are a tight-knit group and look to support each other's shows in our respective areas. For example, I’m judging the Poultry Section at the Methven A&P the week before.

FollowingShowDayand beforeitareyouinvolvedin workingbeesandclean-ups, set-ups

The Poultry Section is one of the more labour-intensive sections for set-up and take-down given all the pens are hired from a local poultry club, therefore need collecting, assembling, numbering and straw put in them. After the Show, it’s the whole process again, but in reverse. Given there has been a Poultry section since the Shows inception nearly 125 years ago, if there was an opportunity for Selwyn District Council, sponsors or local businesses to support the construction of permanent pens, like at Ellesmere Showgrounds, this would be of great assistance and help ensure a further 125 years of poultry exhibition at Malvern A&P.

Whatdoyouseeasthefuture oftheA&PShow-ingeneral, andthisoneinparticular?

I believe the Show is slowly transitioning from being predominantly a competition between producers and exhibitors to more of a community event and a window into the rural way of life for those members of the Malvern and wider community who aren't directly engaged in farming or related industries. As a father of two school aged children, for me one of the greatest things about the Show is seeing my children have such a great day out, enjoying many of the same things I did when I was their age. As for the 2023 event, again, it will be great to hold the Show after last year’s cancellation. I look forward to visiting the wool feature, like Poultry this is also a well-supported section at Malvern A&P that is often overlooked.

Great Support

No show can be successful without the committee 100% behind it and ours is one of the very best, loaded with past Presidents and capable Convenors. It enables younger committee members coming up, the security to encourage their ideas with support. Those special individuals that appear once a year like clockwork to get the job done are good community men and women that are the humble backbone of all small country towns endurance.

Becky Stewart's talented expertise as secretary ensuring were on track has been invaluable. The advancement in technology on and off the farm means shows like ours

The team at Property Brokers Darfield have sponsored the Supreme Champion Livestock Exhibit and Extreme Champion Produce Exhibit. The winners will be presented with their awards before the Grand Parade kicks off the afternoon's entertainment.

“The Malvern A&P Show is a fantastic opportunity to bring the wider community together, and to continue to showcase a broad range of exhibits. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate and reward excellence in agriculture,” commented Property Brokers Rural Sales Consultant, Matt Collier are an ever-changing celebration of rural life, a chance to reconnect with folks and enjoy. In our busy, being busy lives, it is events such as this that bring people together, harking back to a similarity of early days when folk rarely saw each other between the shows