Penrith Show Needs YOU!

At a recent National Conference of Show Organisers, the standing joke was that most people seem to think that we only start work the week before the Show and do nothing for the rest of the year!  

If only it was so, but we start preparing for the next show almost as soon as the last one finishes.

We are always looking for willing volunteers to help with Show.  There are several ways in which you could help.

1.    Become a member of the General Committee – For this you would be expected to become a member of the Penrith Agricultural Society and commit to at least 3 meetings a year.  Don’t worry we wouldn’t be expecting you to jump straight in and organise the show single handed.  We hold about 8 General Meetings a year and are a very friendly group of about 30 regulars, so you can hide at the back, until you feel comfortable chipping in ideas.

2.    Stewarding – Maybe you have animal handling; traffic management or people skills and could volunteer as a Steward on the day.  Again we are looking for people to initially work alongside current stewards and build up our man power in this area.

3.    Set Up and Clear Up Volunteers – Being on a Committee or stepping up as a Steward can seem a bit onerous to a lot of people, so how about helping behind the scenes? Those sheep pens don’t set themselves up and the litter does not magically disappear!  Some of our biggest unsung heroes do not have their names listed in the Show Guide, they do not attend meetings, but without them the show could not happen.  

In the week before the Show the field needs setting up.  Many hands make light work and we desperately need more of these.  Anyone who can give up an evening to help set up sheep pens, hammer in posts for cattle, rope rings etc would be most welcome.  Don’t be shy, bring a friend or two.

Sunday litter picking would be much faster with more hands and the kids can help too.  Maybe you run a local scout or guide group and could help out as part of badge work?  

If you think you could help, please email the Show Secretary: [email protected] with your name, contact details and how you think you could help.  Your details will then be passed on to the Chief Stewards, who will in due course, contact you to say when the work parties are in action.

You may be reading this thinking, well they don’t need me, I don’t live here…well we may not be Your local show, but I’m sure that there is a show near to you that could do with your help.  A quick internet search would find details of your local show and volunteers are in short supply everywhere!