After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 lockdowns and floods, it was clear that the people of Cobram and surrounds were eager to embrace the show’s return in 2023.
On Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29, Cobram showgrounds were packed with attendees and competitors eager for a relaxing, fun-filled weekend.
Cobram Agricultural Show president Jodie Wilson said the turnout on Saturday was a huge success.
“The community has been awesome at supporting the show this year,’’ she said.
“The crowd has been huge and the entertainment has been fantastic.”
In the traditional sideshow alley, attendees enjoyed death-defying rides that dropped, spun and threw the riders around, while others enjoyed more relaxing rides.
But the most popular ride at the show for the young and young at heart were the dodge ‘em cars.
For something different, attendees could enjoy a ride in full-sized monster truck.
The obligatory showbags were also available for attendees to buy and included toys, lollies and almost anything else that would give a sugar hit.
For those wanting something savoury, Dagwood dogs and hot chips were just one of the many available foods.
Local SES and CFA branches also had trucks at the show, allowing attendees to check out the life-saving equipment used.
The show also featured the inaugural Australian Young Farmer Challenge.
According to Ms Wilson, this new event began at the recent Melbourne Royal Show and is slowly going through the regional shows.
The challenge is an engaging, entertaining and fast-paced competition for young rural people aged 15 to 17 and 18 to 35 to show off their skills in various tasks.
The tasks include animal handling, fencing, driving tractors, putting out fires, first aid, heavy lifting and transport challenges.
No agricultural show would be complete without the competitions and displays, and there were plenty at the Cobram show this year, from animal judging and show jumping to cooking and art displays.
One of the most popular shows was the Shaun Jarvis Freestyle Now BMX Show, in which BMX riders performed acrobatics in front of thrilled onlookers.
Chloe Sim, 8, was having the time of her life at the show and said her favourite part of the show was getting her hair braided.
Gippsland resident Michael Wilkinson said that the show was different to anything he had been to before.
His highlight was the 5g ride, which, as the name suggests, spun those riding around and upside down to the point they felt 5g forces, though he summed up his ride experience uniquely.
“Just absolutely losing it,” he said.
Ms Wilson said the show would not be possible without the support of fantastic sponsors and volunteers who worked year-round to make the show a possibility.
“We are a non-profit organisation that puts the show together ... And we can’t do it without the support of our sponsors and our donors, so I just wanted to say very big thank you to them,” she said.