Young farmers show their mettle at West Otago A&P

Lauren O'Connor (22), of Gore, attempts to pour a cup of tea using a digger at the West Otago A&P Show on Saturday. Photo / Samuel White.

Beer testing, a gut-busting obstacle course, artificial insemination and pouring a cup of tea with a digger were just some of the challenges young farmers had to complete at the West Otago A&P Show on Saturday.

The annual show, in its 103rd year, celebrated agriculture and the community in Tapanui.

One of the events on the day was the Young Farmers Competition, in which 16 farmers from the area competed to prove their agricultural skills.

Young Farmers committee member Amanda Brown said the competition was about learning just as much as it was a competitive event.

The farmers had 10 minutes for each of the 17 modules.

A "gut buster" obstacle course challenged the young farmers' fitness, while the dairy industry got a look-in in a module in which competitors had to artificially inseminate a cow.

A couple of more light-hearted modules challenged the farmers to guess the brand of beer based on taste as well as pouring a cup of tea using the bucket of a digger.

Ms Brown said she was surprised some of those taking part did not do so well at the beer testing but, overall, everyone did well at the challenges.

"They're putting a lot of guts into it," she said.

First place in the competition went to Alan Harvey.

He will advance to the Young Farmers Competition at the Mt Benger A&P Show in February next year.

Michael White, of Heriot, shears a sheep.

Show president Vicki Adams said it was a fabulous day.

She felt honoured to be a part of the show day, she said.

"An event like this is only achieved when many people come together with a common goal and work extremely hard."

About 3500 people turned out for the event, which was the largest annual event organised in West Otago, she said.

Livestock were just some of the sights at the show.

It was about friends and family celebrating the community which everyone was privileged to be a part of, she said.

The day involved several agricultural competitions, stalls, sideshows, animal showcases and a show parade.