18th JULY 2025
THURSDAY 24/07/2025
BOOTS, BURGERS & RACING PIGS SAMFORD SHOW BRINGS THE MAGIC You could hear it before you saw it — the buzz of the rides, the laughter, the woodchop thuds, and the unmistakable hum of the crowd spilling into the Showgrounds for another year. The Samford Show was back in full swing, and it was everything we love on display. From toddlers on shoulders to babies in prams, the showgrounds were bursting with families soaking up the sunshine and the displays from some of our most-loved groups and businesses. The smell from the variety of food trucks filled the air as kids climbed onto camel rides (the line was worth it!), snuggled up to goats and sheep in the petting zoo, and cheered on the squealing stars of the racing pig arena. There were big hats, dusty boots, and plenty of ribbonwinning cakes and produce proudly lined up in the pavilion, including third-place winner in the sourdough competition, three-year-old Ezra Old from Samford. (pictured) “Ezra was so excited to enter this year; he wanted to put something in the show like Mum and Dad, so he was
overwhelmed when he found out he’d won a ribbon,” Mum Ali Old said. The woodchoppers drew a roaring crowd early on, axes flying in a blur of sawdust and sweat. Later in the day, the dogs defied gravity in the Great Samford Dog Jump, launching themselves sky-high. The oldschool charm of the Show mixed with the electric joy of kids running with showbags in one hand and melting ice creams in the other.
Community spirit was on full display, too. The Rotary Club of Samford Valley volunteers were flat-out behind the bar, with an expected 3,500 drinks to be served over the weekend. The Samford Stags were aiming to grill up 1,900 burgers, keeping bellies full and energy high. There was a sense of country pride in every corner: from the giant pumpkins to the perfectly plaited horses, the Samford Show delivered the heart and soul of our great region in technicolour. And after what’s felt like a year of non-stop rain, it was great to see the sun shining on the crowds. For many, the Show weekend wasn’t just about rides and ribbons. It was a reminder of why we live here; a place where the community shows up, the kids run free, and even the pigs get their moment in the sun. Until next year, we’ll be dreaming of woodchips, whip cracks, and that one more showbag we probably didn’t need. Jen Fleming
See our pictorial Show spread on Page 24/25.