Central Otago A&P Show stalwart in it for long haul

Central Otago A&P Show patron Don MacLean has never missed the Omakau show in his life. Photos: Tom Kitchin

One man has been in it for the long haul at the Central Otago A&P Show.

Don MacLean (80), the show's patron, has lived in Omakau his whole life and has attended the show every year of that life.

As a farmer, he entered dogs and sheep in the show over the years and won numerous awards.

At the show day on Saturday, he entered some sheep and took away a prize — a shield for the most points in the show.

Catherine Guilfoyle (14), of Queenstown, participates in the showjumping competition at the Central Otago A&P Show in Omakau on Saturday.

He wore his Central Otago A&P Association life member and Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand gold medal award badges with the utmost pride.

He said the local farming spirit kept bringing him back.

"It's country-minded — you can see proper decent-looking animals. You get people to enter and it just keeps on going — that keeps people interested."

With the passing of the show's previous patron, Jim Clouston, earlier this year, Mr MacLean was the obvious choice to take over.

He is a mover and shaker in Omakau — one of its leading farmers, in his heyday he travelled around 12 A&P shows between Christchurch and Invercargill to compete and show others what Central Otago was made of.

Show president Dayna Patersonsaid Mr MacLean was dedicated to the cause.

"Every year his dedication and commitment brings the show along. He's put in quite a lot of effort in the 80 years."

Mr MacLean was proud of pioneering the supreme sheep competition across the A&P shows in the Central Otago district.

As a farmer, he was proud of increasing the size of the family farm over his career — he turned the about 100ha his parents left him into almost 900ha.

He was president of the show from 1991-2.His legacy has not stopped there — his son Donny owns the family farm and is the show's immediate past president.

Mr MacLean said nothing would stop him from going to the show.

"I'll go for as long as I'm still kicking."

The show is a staple on the Omakau calendar.

It has been held in the township for its entire 121-year history.

Event manager Jennifer Mataitis said more than 2000 people attended on Saturday.