THE 2025 Cohuna Show was a resounding success, attracting a good crowd and showcasing the strength of the local community.
With about 1000 people passing through the gates on a hot Friday night and Saturday, the event saw a vibrant mix of competitors, volunteers, and patrons come together to celebrate rural life, agriculture, and community spirit.
“We’re really pleased with how it all went between all the patrons, volunteers, and competitors,” Cohuna Show secretary Giorgi Boucher said.
“We had some great support for the Saturday treasure hunt and family day. We were really pleased to see how many people came out and made the most of that, and we’ll be beefing that up for next year.”
The event’s success wasn’t without its challenges, particularly with the hot weather, which forced some adjustments to the schedule.
“Our main concern was our competitors in the animal sections,” Ms Boucher said.
“We had to cut our horse schedule in half to ensure we were done before the heat hit, and we did lose a couple of horse competitors.
“But for those who came out, we had quite a good turnout, and we were able to get them off to Melbourne Royal with their qualifiers. Beef cattle numbers were great, and thankfully, we didn’t have to adjust that section too much.”
One of the most important aspects of this year’s show was the involvement of local schools.
“We had about 800 entries in the pavilion, just going off our program,” Ms Boucher said.
“We’re really pleased with the support, particularly from the schools around the area. They always put a smile on our face with their creativity.
“People work away all throughout the year just to be able to pop their creations into the show.”
The Cohuna Show also highlighted the importance of involving younger generations in rural life.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into engaging the high school for students to take part in the rural ambassador program,” Ms Boucher said.
“It’s an imperative program to build confidence and get young people ready for their careers and the next steps after high school.
“We were lucky to have Ben Hawken, our junior rural ambassador, representing Cohuna this year, and we’re looking forward to seeing him at the group finals in Swan Hill later this month.”
Behind the scenes, a large group of volunteers made the event possible.
“The people who aren’t necessarily on the committee but are willing to put their hands up and help make things happen are the backbone of this show,” Ms Boucher said.
“Without their dedication, this event wouldn’t be possible. We’re very grateful for those people.”
Ms Boucher emphasised the importance of welcoming new faces to the show’s planning process.
“We’re concentrating on getting young people involved and offering opportunities for them to contribute to the show,” she said.
“We’re also looking forward to our annual reflection meeting next week to discuss what worked well and what we can improve for next year.”
