Agricultural
9 February, 2022
2022 Pittsworth Show’s modified program
Despite every other agricultural show on the Darling Downs and beyond being postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, the Pittsworth Show will be going ahead on March 4th and 5th, but with a modified program.
At this stage, it is expected that the 2022 modified Pittsworth Show will run the Crop Competition and livestock sections only, including beef cattle, horses, show jumping, stud sheep and prime lambs.
The poultry section has, however, been cancelled as it is usually held indoors.
Unfortunately the pavilion, bar, sideshow alley, barbecue, Friday night rodeo, Saturday Night Show and all other roving entertainment will no longer be going ahead.
Although overall the show will look very different this year, the livestock sections will be run the same way as previous years.
In the horse section the normal ring events and showjumping will be going ahead, and the cattle section will be run the same way as in previous years, which includes cattle judging as well as parading.
In the sheep sections the prime lamb and stud sheep events will be run as per usual, with the prime lamb judging going ahead on the morning of Friday March 4th, followed by the prime lamb sale in the afternoon.
The stud sheep parading and judging will be held on Saturday March 5th as in previous years.
The Summer Crop Competition will also be going ahead with the Show Society accepting entries in three categories - Dryland and Irrigated Sorghum, Dryland and Irrigated Cotton, and Mungbeans.
As well as these events and competitions there will also be a canteen operating on the grounds.
All food and drink purchases will be cash only and there will be no ATM available.
The Pittsworth Show Society Management Committee has agonised over the decision to heavily modify the show, with many factors taken into account, and President Lindsay Lack said it was been a very difficult decision to make.
However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and wellbeing of volunteers and the Pittsworth community was at the forefront of the decision.
Mr Lack said that going ahead with the Show’s full schedule would have resulted in a drastically increased risk of high levels of COVID-19 community transmission, which is something they were not prepared to risk.
Alongside this, he said the current restrictions surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations which state that only fully vaccinated persons can enter onto the Showgrounds meant there would be added pressure on volunteers.
“The reason why we’ve chosen to do this is for the community’s benefit, not for ours,” Mr Lack said.
“We would’ve loved to have run it but we didn’t want to be seen as holding an event that would turn into a super spreader.
“Our other option was to postpone the show, but then trying to fit a full show into not just our local schedule but also amongst the other shows around and organise it with the controlling body for the Darling Downs Shows and the Queensland bodies would be too difficult.
“There’s a massive rigmarole to go through to make sure we could do it on another date and we just didn’t feel it was going to be appropriate to do that.
“We felt that it was best that we ran with these two dates to hold our horse, cattle and sheep events.
“The main reason being that the little shows are very important for people to advance in the events in their field and go onto compete at the Ekka and things like that.
“So that’s why we felt it was important to keep it on, because the chances of having it later on were pretty slim, but wanted it to be as safe as possible for the community and our volunteers.”
As per the current Queensland Health Directive, all those who attend must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and proof of vaccination status will be required upon entry into the Showgrounds.
Entry to the grounds, will be via Factory Street only, has been cut to just $5 per person from $15 and all members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend to support the activities going ahead.
More details, including the modified show schedules and event timings, will be released in a later edition of The Pittsworth Sentinel.
For more information regarding the modified 2022 Pittsworth Show, including details surrounding the livestock sections, visit https://www.pittsworthshowsociety.com.au
If you would like to enter into the Summer Crop Competition please contact Duncan Krieg on 0448 990 581 or Jess Phelps on 0458 106 895.
Alongside this, The Pittsworth Showgirl and Rural Ambassador Cocktail Event will also be going ahead prior to the Show on Saturday February 19th at the Pittsworth Motor Inn, but in a modified format.
It will now be a dinner and presentation, giving residents the opportunity to meet this year’s Showgirl Sandy-Lea Riehl and Rural Ambassador Belinda Weber and witness their sashing.
There is no need to purchase a ticket for the event, but those who would like to attend must call the Pittsworth Motor Inn directly on 4693 2888 to book their spot.
The cost to go to the event will now be the price of meals and drinks.
A free alcoholic beverage will be available on arrival.
The Pittsworth Show Society is encouraging everyone to go along to the event to support the Motor Inn and the Showgirl and Rural Ambassador.
