Bulli Show Society was reduced to only providing rides for their last event in November, their only show in two years.

At the time, society president John Andrews voiced concerns to the Mercury stating an ageing committee and rising costs were making it difficult to continue producing the community event.

Mr Andrews had said they had endured a “rough year” with the death of a member and two others (including himself) battling heart problems. While the society was also struggling financially.

But Bulli is not the only show fearing extinction.

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Cattle farmer David Peters is the president of the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW and also sits on the board for the national body, Agricultural Shows Australia.

Mr Peters said there were up to eight NSW shows which had raised concerns in the past 12 months over whether they would be able to produce an event.

Reasons included dwindling numbers of willing and reliable committee volunteers, rising costs of entertainment and liability insurance, plus lack of competitor entries due to the drought.

“You can get areas where the show is really embedded in the community … more than half the state have got that luxury,” he said.

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“To the other extreme where you struggle to get enough committee members to run the show. Partly because I think there’s a less of a connection with agriculture and less of a connection with the farming community.

“And not everyone understand what shows are about.”

Shows have been part of the Australian way of life for nearly 200 years to promote the essential value of agriculture. The first one was held in Hobart in 1822.

At its peak NSW had around 212 and currently has around 193, a sign Mr Peters said people still had faith.

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But in the 21^st century there is a huge emphasis on sponsorship, he said, because no longer could cattle, sheep and produce attract enough patrons through the gates to cover costs.

Mr Peters said the the AGS was currently compiling a list of “shows under threat” with the aim to address major concerns before it’s too late.

“I fully understand Bulli’s position, but they’re not the only ones in that position,” he said.

“It’s sort of a similar situation right across the rest of the country – some areas have got terrific community support and others are just struggling.” 

This will be the 40th year Shaun McParland has been involved in the Albion Park Show, and around the 18th as the society president.

Albion Park hosts one of the bigger shows in the region with around 5000 people attending across the two-day event in 2018. However, it still has its struggles such as attracting exhibitors and showgirl entries

“Agriculture in the area is dwindling … there’s more houses here than farms now,” Mr McParland said.

“It is a concern, other shows have gone by the wayside.

“It is getting hard, it’s a shame. That’s why – especially with our show – we try to keep the agricultural influence there.”

To adapt to changing times the Albion Park Show (run mid-January) has brought in entertainment like a demolition derby, camel races and spectacular fireworks to “keep the crowd happy”.

Their pavilion has also expanded from jams and cakes, to now showcase local produce, flowers and home brew.

Mr McParland believed changing attitudes was behind a lack of entries to the annual showgirl competition, but also females may misunderstand the concept.

The showgirl competition did not begin as a beauty pageant but a quest to find a young woman passionate about her region and willing to become and ambassador for it.

Kiama Show Society boasts a healthy committee of volunteers but also struggles for showgirl entries.

Over time their show has bowed to changing attitudes and diversified their offerings and entertainment – such as a photography exhibition and children’s Lego competition.

Society president David Barnes said longevity wasn’t a concern for his show, but did believe all agricultural shows needed to “remain relevant”.

“The show has had to adapt forever as community expectations changed, we no longer have a boxing tent which used to be a major attraction,” he said.

“It’s a question of ‘what am I offering’ and perhaps involving other community organisations.

“The fact we’ve been going 170 years doesn’t mean to say we’ll be going for another 70 years or another seven years – it’s only if we remain an attractive [event].”

Albion Park Show runs January 19 – 20, Kiama Show runs January 25 to 26.

At the time of publication a date for Bulli Show was yet to be determined for 2019.