Katikati A&P Show is about community bringing the town and country together one day each year for a wonderful event, says show president Louellen Davies.

“The Kati Kati A&P Show was first held on March 13, 1913, on a Thursday to enable the boat from Tauranga to have a favorable tide.

“Although no show was held during the war, here we are only a few years away from our 100th show.”

Today there’s different challenges – the incursion of Mycoplasma Bovis in New Zealand requires Katikati’s show to go without its traditional cattle sections this year.

“But we’re looking forward to those sections returning in the near future,” says Louellen.

And this year’s show – on Sunday, February 3, from 9am-3.30pm at the Uretara Domain – will offer an impressive lineup of entertainment, competitions, trade sites, and country fun for all.

“This year we have the Strongman competition final. This competition is held throughout NZ with the championship at our show, kindly sponsored by Claymark Mill Katikati.”

Strongman competitors will compete four times on the day, with hourly competitions.

Wood-chopping displays, sponsored by Avoco, managed by Val Baker, will start mid-morning and happen every half-hour.

The bar under the oak tree will be manned by Katikati Wrestling Club – so you can watch beach wrestling while sipping your beer – or have a go yourself.

The cattle competitions area will this year be filled with four tiny homes to view, plus vintage machinery and cars.

Horse events will run throughout the day. “Our Show Hunter Jumping has a great points prize – the winner receives a sash, trophy and $150 compliments of Aongatete Coolstores Ltd and Waihi A&P Association.”

The Avoco-sponsored avocado exhibition will have everything from avo racing cars to avo shires to avo ice cream.

Dancing groups and local bands will perform, trade sites will cover everything imaginable, children’s entertainment and pony rides will keep littlies happy – as will a lolly scramble at 12.15pm in the pony ring.

In the pavilion, the home industries section will display cooking and crafts. “Why not enter? Entries will be taken Saturday morning,” says Louellen.

The show’s popular photography section also returns. ‘Don’t forget you can enter this too.”

And one show-goer will win $100 cash – donated by Farmlands Te Puna and FMG Insurance – from their gate ticket.

“This year’s raffle winner will take home a Daikin Air Purifier, sponsored by Katikati Refrigeration & Air Conditioning. Raffle tickets will be for sale at the main gate, with it being drawn on the day.”

Katikati A&P Show is February 3, from 9am-3.30pm at Uretara Domain. Tickets cost adults $5, school children $2, under-fives gain free entry. Gates open 9am.