MANSFIELD was well represented at the Central & Upper Goulburn Group finals on Sunday March 30 at Kyneton with several entries including our junior and rural ambassadors.

The Mansfield A&P Society was vying with nine other show societies for the opportunity to compete in the VAS (Victorian Agricultural Shows) Ltd state finals at the Melbourne Royal as well as other non-VAS categories.

Representing Mansfield in the junior ambassador competition was year 12 student Connor McFadden who despite being up against several other impressive young people did the shire proud with his presentation and enthusiasm for rural communities.

Connor described his involvement with the Mansfield Show as an exhibitor with his photography and as a volunteer in later years.

Bella Gilbert from the Lilydale show society will represent the group at the state finals at the VAS Convention to be held in Bendigo in July.

Mansfield livestock worker for Nutrien Ag Solutions, Annie Marquison will be following in the steps of the local winner from 2024, Nicci Teitge, to represent us and the group at the Royal Melbourne in September.

Annie presented an impromptu three-minute speech over lunch on the topic "Describe the driving factors behind the widening gap between rural and urban communities" which was challenging but she did a really great effort.

She spoke about city people not understanding where their food comes from and the need for better education about food production.

This year Mansfield upped the ante in the cookery classes after no success at group level last year with Carly Marshall taking out the VAS Junior Boiled Fruit Cake prize and the chance to compete at the state final at the Royal Melbourne family.

In the group only qualifiers, our other young bakers did well with two seconds.

Zara Miekle in the under 14 scones and her cousin Amelia Clegg in the open scones.

In the needlework Margaret Blackburn from Benalla who is a regular exhibitor at Mansfield Show won first prize with her beautiful crochet baby's jacket in the group only final.

In the group only beanie category Merran Stuart took out second place with her entry.

Judges commented on the high standard of entries this year.

Mansfield A&P Society was pleased with the number of entries submitted which were transported to Kyneton for the early morning judging including cookery, woodwork, photography and craft in junior and senior categories.

​The society is looking forward to seeing your entries for the 2025 Mansfield Show on November 15.