Presidents Report
I am certainly chuffed to have ‘survived’ through my first year as president, and I can say I am looking forward to the second, having familiarised myself with what's required.
As both a committee and a community, we've had a few tricky moments, losing a good friend in Victor and dealing with an uncomfortable economic correction that has affected us all. Yet, despite this, it is incredibly humbling for our committee to see our show so well supported again despite the pressure families and businesses were under. Our show was a good one. We presented some new ideas that were received well, and our goal of building on an already strong show is encouraging. This has been reinforced with a pleasing financial result. You can expect more new, fresh, and vibrant ideas to come at our show this year, so spread the word, and we look forward to seeing you there.
We had several huge fundraising efforts that were extremely well supported. I would like to acknowledge those on the committee that organised our Lamb and Calf fundraisers, and I would like to say a massive thanks to those that supported them with their generosity. I, for one, have certainly been humbled by the support the Ashburton community has given us. It has allowed us to work on some development projects and strengthen the value of our community grounds for all who use them.
In two years, we will proudly celebrate 150 years of our show, which first took place in 1877. At that time, NZ’s population was around 400,000, and farmers were transitioning from bullock to horse-drawn ploughs. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a landscape that would have been barely recognisable by those pioneering families. Our challenges have changed but still persist. New Zealand has grown into a high-quality export nation, and technology has transformed the way we do business. History would teach us, that as an association we must also continue to evolve as we focus on future-proofing our show and bringing town and country together.
So, our 150th is an occasion worth making a big deal about, and the A&P is determined to make it a ‘goodie’. Many of you will have stories, artifacts, and ideas that are relevant to our celebration, so please come forward and share them with us as we work towards this major milestone in Ashburton’s history in 2027.
Our Board has a change coming with Richard Lemon resigning from his role of Board Chairman after many years of service. Richard, what can we say, you and Barbara have shared your lives with the A&P for many years, and we all appreciate the valued leadership you have selflessly given to the board since its conception. A big thank you from us all! Enjoy that ‘extra’ time you now have with your family. Fortunately for us, Richard has agreed to remain as acting chair until a suitable replacement is found, and his continued presence on the general show committee is of enormous comfort.
Finally, I have enjoyed working with a great bunch of people on our committee. Thank you all for your help and support. We have a healthy selection of members with their own set of skills, and it’s exciting to be working alongside you. As always, to all our A&P members, we thank you for the continued support you give us. It is really appreciated!
Regards, Ben Stock.