MARQUEES are popping up at the Hamilton Showgrounds like meerkats at feeding time with contractors by the dozen hard at work as Sheepvention Rural Expo 2023 draws closer.

This year’s Sheepvention has been shortened from the traditional three-day event and will now run over two days – Sunday, August 6, and Monday, August 7.

Excitement is growing especially as the annual event takes on a new theme with a festival style tent as the centre piece at the showgrounds and 550 sites being set up for around 400 exhibitors.

However, Hamilton P&A Society business and events manager, Emmelie Nijskens, said that while everything is going according to plan, more volunteers were needed.

“The event couldn’t go ahead without volunteers,” she said.

“We’re always looking for more passionate individuals to help bring this great event together!

“We are looking for more volunteers to assist with event setup at our working bee on Wednesday, August 2, and volunteers to assist with pack down on Tuesday, August 8.”

Ms Nijskens said it was a huge logistical operation. There are always lots of complexities involved in planning, organising, and executing many and varied aspects of an event of this capacity to ensure its success.

“Planning starts 12 months in advance to lock in all the major components, right down to the nitty gritties,” she said.

“A lot of time, hard work and commitment goes into putting together such an operation, but it’s a big learning and extremely rewarding experience at the end of it all.”

Coordinating animals, setting up yards, connecting power, laying woodchips and straw, signage, heating and all the compliance regulation that goes with that requires massive coordination.

On top of that is the usual negotiation of wet weather and working on sodden ground.

“As is renowned and everyone is aware - it’s not Sheepvention until it’s pouring - so we’ll see what the next 10 days brings,” Ms Nijskens said.”

Nevertheless, she said there was a positive atmosphere at the showgrounds as anticipation builds ahead of the show.

“The event will go ahead as scheduled rain, hail or shine,” she said.

“There’s lots of action happening at the showgrounds at the moment,” she said.

“Lots of people will have noticed our new festival style tents going up in the last 24 hours, which will give the event a complete makeover and new look!”