Animals, free breakfasts for school children and a new train ride - this year's Royal Show really is proving it's royalty.
More than 1500 children enjoyed cereal, toast, spreads and milk supplied by Fonterra and Sanitarium at yesterday's opening day.
Pupils said they loved the milk and the bread was "so soft".
Volunteer helper, also known as "chief toaster", Gail Mitchell said: "It's great to see all these kids enjoying breakfast".
The new breakfast is part of a wider Fonterra initiative for this year's show.
Area manager Tony Haslett said their main objective was to educate the Hawke's Bay public on what the region had to offer.
"We decided for the first time to support the Hawke's Bay show, particularly because it's a royal show."
The breakfast was a one-day-only feature - but the Fonterra train will be there until gates close on Friday at 5pm. Children raced to the train after breakfast to sit in blue Fonterra barrels which had been strung together like carriages by local farmers.
Breakfast wasn't the only food on offer though, the usual rainbow-coloured shaved ice, candy floss and hot dogs were still a favourite.
Schools from around the region also visited the show yesterday, with students from as far away as Wairoa making their annual field trip to cash in on the fun.
With a double dose of animals this year, pupils crowded around pigs, goats and llamas who featured at the petting zoo for the first time.
Despite these new contenders, tiny lambs remained a favourite with adults and children alike. Cute and quirky aside, the real star of the show was Haggis, a 10-year-old highland steer, standing about 4m long and sporting long, curling horns.
Children either feared the beast or were drawn to its gentle nature. Farmyard zoo helper Dyan Lecomte said the imposing animal's dreaded coat was brushed specially to fit the royal theme. All things being royal this year, the usual stallholders still secured a spot. Te Awanga spinners and weavers have been coming to the show for nearly 20 years. Jackie Peacock, 75, said she enjoyed the children's questions, especially when asked whether she's from the "olden-days". The shown opens again for its last day tomorrow at 8.30am.