Ag shows need support

WITH many agricultural shows, including Sheepvention, being cancelled for a second year in a row, concern has been raised about how shows would survive financially and the impact it had on rural communities. Photo: SPEC FILE.

By Ash Bolt

August 21, 2021 | 2:12 PM

THE state’s shadow agriculture and regional Victoria minister has called on the State Government to financially support “desperate” agricultural shows as they fear for survival with COVID-19 again causing cancellations.

With several agricultural shows announcing their cancellation for the second year in a row over the past few weeks, including Hamilton’s Sheep Connect, due to COVID-19 restrictions, shadow agriculture minister, Peter Walsh said many of the volunteer-run events were at risk of “disappearing entirely” if they didn’t get much-needed financial support.