At the official opening, show president Lee Laverty recalled growing up nearby and as a young child wondering what all the kerfuffle was about as he could hear the noise and excitement from his backyard.

When old enough to realise what the show was about, Lee started competing and can still recall the joy of winning a prize for a champion vegetable as a Year 7 student – and trumping his Ag teacher at the same time.

Watch the Grand Parade:

Along with mayor Rhonda Hoban, special guest and local Federal Member Luke Hartsuyker said he held a deep fondness for the Macksville event which he noted maintained a strong agricultural theme.

While sideshow alley was just starting to hum ahead of its peak traffic time this evening, much of the day action centred on the ring events, and the cattle with school teams from as far away at St Paul’s College, Kempsey and Bellingen High School.

The gun and the dodgy log:

Perennial favourite the woodchop also attracted good crowds, while the punters moved from Pluto pups to ice cream waffles as quickly as the weather from a cold, damp morning to a hot, sweaty afternoon.

Snake show with Adam from Reptile World:

Enjoy the gallery.

We dare you to ride The Claw:

And in case you missed it, here’s the gallery from yesterday’s Day 1 action.