Country balls on the same weekend

Maniototo Young Farmer's Club vice-president Matt Ward contemplates some top hat attire ahead of this Saturday's young farmers' ball at the Gimmerburn Hall. Photo / Pam Jones

Two young farmers' balls in Central in the same weekend? No worries. The ballgowns are ready, and supper's on the go.

''We've got a few roasts on, all we're going to do is cold meat sammies, really,'' Maniototo Young Farmers vice-president Matt Ward said.

''We've got a couple of buns and a bit of cake, the girls are in charge of that.''

The Maniototo ball will be held at the Gimmerburn Hall this Saturday, the same evening the Teviot Valley Young Farmers ''Boots, Ballgowns and Bow Ties'' ball will be held at the Millers Flat Hall.

The double-up would not matter, Mr Ward said.

''There shouldn't be any overlap; we've each got people coming from different areas. The main thing we want to do is get people out and about rather than sitting inside at home. Once rugby finishes and you don't have the after-match any more, you don't see people as much. Everyone gets stuck in winter mode.''

Teviot Valley Young Farmers vice-chairwoman Tara Dwyer said the biennial young farmers' balls held in the Teviot region were always a success.

''It's an opportunity for anyone in the community to get together to have a wine and what not, a bit of a dance. It's also a chance to unwind at the end of the winter. There aren't heaps of opportunities for the farming community to come together, so you've got to make some events happen.''

Supper at the Teviot Valley ball would also be a ''simple'' affair - a spit roast and buns, Miss Bates said.

- Otago Daily Times