The historic Takapau Ploughing Match to be held on Saturday will be an occasion to show off three historic trophies that were returned to the organising committee this week.
The trophies are thought to have last been presented together more than 60 years ago and were found by Napier man Brian Mackintosh among estate items he bought at auction.
The trophies are the Allis Chalmers Cup, named after the popular tractor of the the era and presented by dealers Levin and Co, the Takapau YFC Challenge Cup and the Takapau Ploughing Match Cup, 1952.
Engraving suggests the now 106-year-old club last presented the trophies in 1954, to well-known local ploughman Harold Nelson.
Club chairman Brian Kirk says it's possible they were presented in perpetuity, because there appeared to be no indication they were ever recorded as being missing.
Mr Mackintosh had wondered what to do with the silverware until last week, when he read in The Land of the impending annual match, held at Chris and Debbie Minehan's Magella Farm off Speedy Rd.
He contacted Hawke's Bay Today and the trophies were handed back to Mr Kirk in Napier on Monday.
The trophies aren't expected to be on the line on Saturday and it's not yet known what the club will do with them, although Mr Kirk said, "It's great to have them back. Nothing has happened to us like this before."
The find has added interest in Saturday's events, which start at 10.30am and were already guaranteed a look back, with some interest in vintage ploughing machinery and horse-drawn ploughs.
About 20 entrants are expected, including, a healthy number compared with the down years when there were what Mr Kirk calls "just a handful - less than 10".
Among them are former Takapau ploughman Steve Muggeridge with his two Clydesdales, and the club was this week hoping two horse-drawn ploughs from Waikato would be included.
The day includes a round of the Silver Plough qualifying series, and is the start of a big extended weekend for ploughmen across the central and lower North Island, with the Wairarapa plough match on Sunday and the Manawatu match on Monday.
Manawatu will host the national Silver Plough final on a farm near Feilding next Easter, with the winner expected to compete in the next World Ploughing Championship in England later next year.