Town met country at the Franklin A&P Society’s 132nd annual show.
Show secretary Sarah Wright said the show consisted of entries in home industries, equestrian, dairy cattle and dairy goats. Unfortunately, there were not enough numbers to run the beef cattle section.
“Entries seemed to be on the increase from last year’s show, but visitor numbers through the gate were down. This could be due to a number of reasons – the weather was a bit horrid on the Friday and overcast throughout the weekend, with a few showers.”
The show also hosted Franklin’s Strongest Man and Woman, Counties Shears Sheep Shearing, along with other entertainment like the Puni Line Dancers.
Russ family members Sara, Dallas, and Bobby-Jean judged dozens of honey entries on the Saturday morning.
Entries were marked for the container’s appearance, honey density, water content, freedom from crystals, cleanliness and lack of foam, flavour, and accuracy of filling.
Sara said honey entries with a moisture content above 18.6 per cent were disqualified as this leads to fermentation.
Pukekohe Show MC (and local councillor) Andy Baker said he met Barry Liddle, who used to show cattle for many years. He said Barry had fond memories of showing his Jersey heifer calf at the Franklin A&P Show, starting when he was 12 years old. Barry’s family farm is now part of central Pukekohe on Russel Avenue, and the original cowshed is still there being used as a garden shed.
The Franklin Agricultural Society (later amended to the Franklin Agricultural and Pastoral Society) was established in 1885 and the first show was held on April 29, 1886. Since that time, only seven annual shows have not been held, for reasons such as the Polio epidemic, the war effort, and more recently, Covid 19.
The 2025 show was the 132nd show held by the society. The show was rebranded in 2018 as the Pukekohe Show, in line with the growth of the area and the gradual loss of identity of the Franklin area, Wright said.
The Civil Contractors New Zealand CablePrice Auckland Regional Excavator Operator Competition was also held in conjunction with the show.
Nineteen of the region’s most skilled operators competed in a series of challenges including using their excavator buckets to play Giant Jenga, delicately opening a bottle, and writing words with a paint brush.
Winner Cameron Mabey, of TDM Construction, will represent Auckland at the nationals held at the Central District Field Days in March.
