Five country agricultural shows to take the family to

A passion for farm animals isn’t compulsory, but it sure helps as there’s always a prize for the most impressive sheep, cow, goat, horse or pig.

Then there are the home baking sections – usually mouth-watering - the showbags containing a cornucopia of goodies and of course you’ll have usual assortment of fairground rides. Most country areas have their own shows, but here’s a few to pique your interest.

Daylesford, with its hot springs, restaurants and plenitude of beautiful B&Bs has become such a tourism hot-spot it’s easy to forget the town is also the epicentre of a thriving agricultural region. The annual show, which goes all the way back to 1865, is a good reminder and the pavilion displays of home baking, cheeses, eggs, flowers and much more, together with the livestock judging outside, reinforce rural location goodness. Daylesford is about 90 minutes from Melbourne and Spring is normally in full swing for the November date – but be warned this is Victoria - so it’s usually a great day out.

Show date: 4th Saturday of November

Things are different in northern NSW, and we’re not just talking about Byron Bay’s alternative dress codes and surfing vibe. A little inland is Bangalow, a cute village at the best of times but on show day you get much more than just cakes, cows and chickens. Events include ‘Tart of the Show’ (where apparel is every bit as important as the dessert), ‘Holy Cow Batman’ (kids race about dressed as their favourite superhero) and the almost unfathomable ‘Belt, Buckle and Boot Cup’ – a horse race which requires button-up shirts for easy disrobing. It all happens in mid-November and is well worth the drive.

Show date: Friday 15th to Saturday 16th November 2019

You’d expect the capital of the fertile Darling Downs to put on memorable agricultural shows, and Toowoomba hasn’t disappointed since 1860. Although the cattle judging is the big event for farmers in beef country, if you’re not into cows, the fairground, show jumping, wine tasting, wood chopping competitions and even chainsaw racing (it makes Formula One look as dangerous as lawn bowls) are noteworthy distractions. It’s on from April 12 to 14 next year, and Toowoomba is less than two hours from Brisbane.

Show date: Friday 12th to Sunday 14th of April 2019

Many mainlanders might think Tasmania is one big barnyard and, while it’s true the Apple Isle is Australia’s least populated state, all that farming goodness makes for one heck of a grand ag show every year in Ranelagh, near Huonville, which is just southwest of Hobart. There are surprisingly few prizes for ‘best apple’, but if it’s horses, cattle, milking goats, even alpacas and cute cavies (Google them!) you’re into, get Ranelagh into your diary. There’s also plenty of fairground attractions and a notable collection of farm machinery, some of it vintage and all fascinating.

Show dates: Saturday 16 November 2019

In February, vintage is in full swing in the Barossa Valley, but in nearby Angaston they’re gearing up for something almost as big – the annual agricultural show. A pleasant hour-and-a-bit’s drive from Adelaide, the Angaston Show largely eschews shiraz and chardy for showbags and fairground rides, plus an amazing array of produce, baking, bottling, historic shearing, horse riding action and much more. Of course, as a delectable bonus, you can also pop into any number of cellar doors in the area.

Show dates: Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th February 2019

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