Novel events amongst the traditional at Te Puke A&P show

Tractor pulling returns to the Te Puke A&P Show in February.

Te Puke A&P Show committee members are busy organising the 112th show to be held on February 10.

As well as the traditional A&P show fare of cattle competitions, displays, trade exhibits and shearing competitions, there will also be some less familiar things to see and do.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers (NZKGI) will once again hold its regional Young Grower of the Year Competition with practical and theory competitions running throughout the day.

"This event is important to the industry because it highlights and showcases the talent we have in the industry," says last year's regional winner Erin Atkinson, who went on to win the national Young Grower of the Year title.

"It is a good way to challenge and grow our young fruit growers. It provides opportunities to help with further career development and is a great way to network."

The competition is an ideal opportunity to see first hand how dedicated these young fruit growers are in performing their tasks, says A&P Society secretary Kim Cawte.

Other major events on the day will include lawnmower racing, likely to be one of the highlights, as well as the return of truck and tractor-pulling competitions.

Classic cars, trikes and Jaguars will be on display and Greg Clark will be returning with his racing sheep.

Te Puke Young Farmers Club will be running the ladies' gumboot-throwing and horseshoe-throwing competitions and Rotorua and BOP Hunt Club will be parading horses and hounds in the main horse ring.

There will be pony rides, home industries, show jumping, a miss and master contest for 4 to 11-year-olds, apple bobbing and snakes and ladders.

Show schedules and entry forms can be found at www.ras.org.nz or by emailing Kim at kimcawte@gmail.com.

"This is a rustic show where the town meets the country and has only been cancelled once in its 112 years," says Kim.

"The Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show is one of the shows that continues to grow, so bring your family and friends along to enjoy this great day."

Kim says sponsorship is crucial to the running of the show and major sponsors including Fonterra, Legacy Trust, TECT, Hargreaves Trust and KGI. The show's gate takings go to pay for entertainment, speaker systems, portaloos, rubbish bins, chillers, marquees, competitions, prize money and "much more that is required to run the show".