ALL roads will lead to Foster this Saturday for the 109th annual Foster & District Show. The event promises to have something of interest for everyone, including a number of new features and activities never before seen at the Show.
In the proud tradition of agricultural shows throughout Australia, the Foster Agricultural Society have spent the past 12 months planning for this day which brings the community together in celebration of all that is wonderful about living in a rural area.
By around 9am there should be plenty happening. Once again, the Toora & District Community Bank® Branch & Foster branch of Bendigo Bank is a major sponsor and is sponsoring the $200 gate prize, so be sure to complete a card (collected on entry to Show at gate) and place it into the box at their marquee in the basketball stadium. The gate prize will be drawn at the Grand Parade.
The Show will be officially opened at 12 noon this year by Bev Shandley. Bev, who will be judging the show jumping, has attended every Foster Show for over 60 years. Bev began judging equine events around 19 years ago and is now a much-in-demand international equine event judge.
The official opening will be followed by the Grand Parade, which will be led by riders on horseback in the uniform of the 8th Light Horse, their armbands bearing poppies donated by the RSL.
The art horse rugs will follow, displayed on 15 horses and one pony. The aim of the HorseArtsAnzac project is to commemorate and honour the role of the horse in theatres of war, specifically the 8th Light Horse Regiment of the First World War, many members of which came from South Gippsland.
Prom Coast Arts artists Kim McDonald and Anda Banikos have harnessed the creative talents of the community to produce horse rugs for the HorseArtsAnzac project. Over several months they facilitated workshops at Foster Community House and at local schools, where historical artefacts were provided to inspire designs.
The Foster & District Historical Society helped with historical research, and the Toora & District Community Bank® Branch & Foster branch of Bendigo Bank and Foster RSL sponsored the project.
From poultry to preserves, art to alpacas, beer to bantams, carrot cakes to cattle, there will be entries and exhibits to provide plenty of interest. Plenty of action will also wow the crowds, including show jumping, gumboot throwing, sheaf tossing, cattle dog trials, dog high-jump, demonstrations and parades.
Vehicle enthusiasts will enjoy the vintage tractor and classic car displays. Demonstrations of sheep shearing will take place every hour from 10am to 3pm and members of the Foster Wool Group will demonstrate how to spin wool.
Mike Alexander from Black Snake Productions will be bringing his reptiles along and will be more than happy to speak about them and let people handle some of these cool creatures.
There will be plenty to keep the kids entertained… fairground rides, art and craft demonstrations, free rides on the bucking bull and much, much more. The Miss Show Girl and Master Tot entrants will be vying for titles at 11am.
Adding to the terrific atmosphere will be live music provided by The McCrackens. Who will be the winning acts in the Foster Show Idol this year? Soloists and bands will be performing from 1pm.
While visiting the Foster Show, be sure to travel along the Avenue of Agriculture and explore a range of new and established agricultural alternatives.
The Show’s Avenue of Agriculture made its debut last year and was very well received by visitors. It promises to once again provide heaps of interest and plenty of inspiration.
The range of options this year will include angora and dairy goats, beekeeping with the South Gippsland Beekeepers, mountain pepper culture, trout farming, pig farming, mobile sawmilling, olive growing, and much, much more. Every stand has a story behind it of trial and error, experimentation and hard work to produce a speciality product.
The Foster Photography Club is hosting the Photography section. While viewing the entries, why not try your luck by purchasing tickets for the club’s seafood raffle? You could win a $150 voucher to spend at the Foster Seafood Shop.
Foster & District Community House and Learning Centres Inc. will have its first outing under the new name of Manna Gum Community House at the Show. The Community House will be partnering with the Renewal Energy Demonstration Trailer (REDT) and Manna Community Garden in a special stall with a focus on sustainability.
The Foster Show will run all day Saturday. Tickets (for non-members) cost $10 per adult, $4 concession, and $1 for children under 16 years.
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