Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
KZN Youth Show at Royal Agricultural Exhibition
The KZN Youth Show will run from Friday, 24 May to Sunday, 26 May at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg. It forms part of the Royal Agricultural Exhibition, which takes place from 23ȲMay to 28 May and is sponsored by the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, Standard Bank and Nashua. For four decades the KZN Youth Show has cultivated the next generation of farmers, giving them a platform to test and display the skills and knowledge which they have spent the year honing.
The Youth Show was started by Dr Merron Galliers in January 1983, after he was inspired by the 4-H movement on a trip to the US.
The idea was then taken up by the other provinces in South Africa and was developed into the National Agricultural Youth Show.
Originally held in January, the KZN Youth Show moved to the Royal Showgrounds in 2010 and has been hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society at its annual show in May ever since.
It has become an integral part of the society’s show and will continue to be an important part of the new format of the Royal Agricultural Exhibition. The KZN Youth Show will host 11 competitive classes including beef cattle, dairy cattle, wool sheep, mutton sheep, goats, rabbits, fancy pigeons, racing pigeons, poultry, auctioneering, and dairy products.
These classes will be divided into junior-junior (under 10 years), junior (under 14 years), and senior (under 18 years), ensuring that participants compete in a pool of their peers.
Participants will be tested in three areas, i.e. knowledge of the animal’s requirements, physiology, and practical aspects of training and preparation; preparation of the animal for the show ring (washing, grooming, clipping, etc); and showmanship in the ring.
A provincial team will also be chosen from this year’s participants to represent KZN at the National Youth Show.
According to the organisers, the Youth Show is an opportunity for aspiring farmers to develop their practical, intellectual and emotional skills, and to receive important feedback, advice and encouragement.
“These young people also have the opportunity to form and strengthen friendships and peer networks that will be invaluable in the future,” the organisers said.