As part of the entertainment, 19 teams of three children from Waimate and North Otago took part in the AgriKids competition, in only the second time the five-year-old event had been run in conjunction with an A and P show.
The year's two-day show, which started on Friday was bigger and better than ever, with more than 2100 event entries, 40 stalls and an increase in trade shows.
One of the popular events for children (and their parents shouting support) was the AgriKids competition, organised by the new Glenavy Young Farmers' Club.
The teams were whittled down during the morning over a number of tasks, with seven lining up for the final in the afternoon.
They started by having to whip cream to ice a sponge cake then decorate it with lollies, took part in skills competition which included a wool bale race and throwing water bombs into a bucket and then had to feed a calf a litre of milk.
It was the last-minute entry of composite team the Waimate Warriors that won the event.
Josh Ratcliff (13), of Weston School, Bradley McGirr (13), of Waimate School, and Thomas Galbraith (12) of Oamaru Intermediate, were at the show to watch their siblings compete.
Just before the competition started, they got together and formed their own team, coming up with the Waimate Warriors name, even though they were from different schools.
Second were the Bulldogs from Waihao Downs School: Josh Mehrtens (11), James Mcrae (11) and John Shearer (11).
The Papakaio School team of Brett Kingsbury (10), Shane Johnston (11) and Kody Munro (11) entered the contest about three weeks ago and finished third.
They said they had not practised for the event and the contest was a "total mystery".
Like other contestants, they had no hesitation in giving the thumbs up to eating the sponge cake as the best part of the contest.
AgriKids manager Bronwyn Muir said the contest was set up to give young people a taste of what it would be like to compete in the Young Farmer of the Year contest.
It has been held for the past five years, but usually separately from shows.
However, this year it was decided to also make it part of the show circuit.
Waimate was the second to stage it, while Manawatu had been the first.
Next year it was hoped to involve between six and eight shows, she said.
Organisers were pleased with the crowd for the main events on Saturday, with entries growing over the past few years.
The Waimate show combines all the attractions of an agricultural and pastoral show with a festival, including entertainment by the Big Kora Band and stalls offering food and drink alongside the arts and crafts.
