On the 15 February 1930, the people of Upper Lansdowne held their first agricultural show at the Upper Lansdowne Hall. The show was opened by Mr L O Martin MLA. The committee led by Cr. W McLaughlin included Mr L V Mitchell as secretary, Mr Jas Ritchie and Vic Atkins. There were over 800 exhibits entered.
This was followed in 1931 with the show being held in March. A record 949 entries were received including farm produce, jams, preserves, art, fancy work and school work. The show was again opened by Mr L O Martin MLA with Mr Jas. Ritchie as president of the show committee.
A Junior Farmers Club was formed in early 1935 and included 50 juniors from Upper Lansdowne, Lansdowne, Coxcomb and Koppin Yarratt schools. The advisory committee for the Club included Mr H R Cicolini, President and Mr C C Drury, Secretary.
The Junior Farmers Club held its first show at the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall on 4 May 1935. The livestock exhibits included AIS, Jerseys and Guernseys as well as pigs and poultry. In the hall, exhibits were displayed from the farm and home and entries totalled nearly 1000.
During the year the junior farmers were kept busy with various projects including vegetable growing, calf raising, flower gardening, maize growing, potato growing, poultry rearing, pig raising, cooking, needlework and record keeping to name a few. Club members were encouraged to exhibit at the annual show. By November 1935 membership in the Junior Farmers had increased to 72.
In March 1936 the second Junior Farmers Show was held again at Upper Lansdowne Hall. There was a good lineup in the cattle section including 19 AIS, 11 Jerseys and 9 Guernseys. Entries were also received for poultry and pigs. The hall displayed the farm produce and vegetable section, jams, preserves, cooking, flowers, fancy work and school work. The entries totalled 1270. In the afternoon sports events were held including tug-o’war. Mr H Atkins was chosen to run the horse events which included bending race, maiden bending race, rescue race, flag race, cigarette race and novelty race.
The third annual Junior Farmers show was held over 2 days in early March 1937 and was advertised as the ‘Royal Calf Show of the North Coast’ according to the Northern Champion. The livestock section included 96 head. The hall housed the produce, vegetables, garden flowers, cookery, sewing and schoolwork for the young folk and a number of sections for the adults. Total entries for the show reached 1185. An essay written by Jean Richards, aged 12 was awarded first prize at the show and appeared in the Northern Champion on 10 March 1937.
At the third annual meeting held on 29 July 1937 it was noted that there were now 80 members and this would possibly increase as the 1938 show would be held at Lansdowne. During 1937 the Junior Farmers held field days at the studs of Messrs JT Richards (AIS) and PV Payne (Jerseys). Early in 1938 a field day was also held at the stud of C C Drury (Guernseys).
On 4 and 5 March 1938 the fourth annual Junior Farmers show was held at the Lansdowne Recreation Ground and Literary Institute. The cattle show was outstanding and the School of Arts was filled with splendid displays of flowers, farm exhibits, cooking and school work. A full report of the show appeared in the MR Times on 9 March 1938.
The fifth annual show in 1939 returned to Upper Lansdowne Hall and was held over 2 days in late April. The livestock classes included cattle, pigs and poultry. In the hall, exhibits included flowers, vegetables, cookery, jams, needlework and schoolwork. Novelty horse events were run on the Saturday afternoon on the flat between the hall and the creek. An article appeared in the Northern Champion on 3 May 1939.
It would appear that after War broke out, there were no further shows held at Upper Lansdowne.
JUNIOR FARMERS MOVEMENT
As previously mentioned a Junior Farmers Club was formed in early 1935 and included 50 juniors from Upper Lansdowne, Lansdowne, Coxcomb and Koppin Yarratt schools. The founding advisory committee for the Club included Mr H R Cicolini, President and Mr C C Drury, Secretary. Junior Farmer shows were held at Upper Lansdowne Hall in 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1939.
One of the Supervisors for The Junior Farmers’ Club in the early days was Mr Frank Simms. He alternated between the Koppin Yarratt School and the Lansdowne School. The supervisor would encourage the members in their farm activities and emphasise the importance of record-keeping. The Lansdowne School was then situated in Barlin’s Road about a mile north of the Lansdowne Village.
The Senior Advisory Council for the Junior Farmers would meet regularly throughout the year preparing schedules, organising show dates and maintaining the grounds. Mr Charlie Barlin was the first Chairman after the war ended. He remained in that position for many years. Mr Clarrie Hardes took over from Charlie when he left the district. Clarrie also remained in the position for many years. Darryl Hardes became President when Clarrie stepped down, followed by Tommy Warren who also held the position of Chairman for a number of years.
Future exhibitions were held in the Lansdowne Park where there were excellent facilities. The Park boasted a Grandstand with space underneath to exhibit vegetables, flowers, cooking, needlework and record books and a kiosk. Chook-pens were built to cater for the poultry exhibits.
The Pony Club staged events in conjunction with the Rural Youth Show. These events were great spectator events. The Lansdowne Rural Youth Club can also boast that a former Australian Olympian, John Fahey, was one of their regular competitors on Show Day. John Fahey was born and raised at Upper Lansdowne.
Junior Farmers included every aspect of farming practices including cattle, pigs, poultry, vegetables, flowers, cooking and needlework. Club members were encouraged to exhibit their wares at the Annual Shows. Interclub exhibiting was encouraged. In the process the young farmers learnt best farming practices and built friendships with other young people with similar interests.
A change of name on 1 July, 1966, to the Rural Youth Organisation of NSW, was seen as a positive move to increase interest from suburban youth as lifestyle changes, and expanding education options arrived.
In June 2003, our local Rural Youth Club celebrated 75 years of Rural Youth in the State of NSW at the Upper Lansdowne Hall.
Additional photos taken at the Junior Farmers shows at Upper Lansdowne Hall
Compiled by Gloria Crittenden – January 2021 (4 photos supplied by Glenda (Drury) Dutton)