Preparations for this year's CHB A&P Show on November 10, 11 and 12 are well underway, with the showgrounds being groomed for the event and competition entries rolling in.
Popular spectator events are returning this year including the terrier racing that starts at 1.30pm in the main ring, and the Top Team Challenge, where teams pit their skills against each other in difficult obstacles such as the slippery pole and bale rolling, are back this year.
These are in addition to displays of vintage cars and machinery, Highland dancing, children's petting zoo, baking and craft, photography, roses and more situated around and under large trees with plenty of picnic spot options.
The family entertainment continues with Mahons sideshows and amusement rides, and another new spectacle this year - a wakeboarding demonstration on two large pools.
These are being brought to the show by Takapau's Backpaddock Lakes and some of the country's top wakeboarders will be attached to winches performing jumps and tricks on obstacles.
The wakeboarding display was planned for last year's show, but technical issues with the portable pools prevented it going ahead. This year, some good "rural ingenuity" has been used to make sure all goes to plan.
"Last year the portable pools couldn't cope with the pressure and burst," says CHB A&P Show president Chris Menzies.
"This year we have 'countrified' the pools by designing them with balage bales and sturdy silage covers. It's a good rural solution."
The wakeboarding pools are 8m wide and 20m long, four metres apart and wakeboarders will be performing demonstrations throughout the day, doing jumps between the two pools.
"There are wakeboarders coming from all over the North Island. many of them were coming last year and were disappointed the event didn't go ahead so were keen to come along this year."
The finale of the show on Saturday night starting at 5.30pm is the bullriding event, the first fixture in this summer's bullriding circuit where more than 30 competitors pit themselves against bucking bulls weighing up to 800kgs apiece.
- Tickets: There is a separate entry fee for the bull riding on Saturday night - adults $15, children 15 and under $5, under 5s free, family pass (two adults, two children) $35. The general show admission fee is the same as for the bull riding.