Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for joining us for the opening of the 2022 Eston Show.

After a 2 year break due to Covid, we are excited to finally host a show again. As our BEFA Chairman, Roger de Billot mentioned this is the 68th year and as far back as I can tell this break has been the first – what an innings that is. We are able to achieve this due to our amazing community. Earlier this year at our BEFA AGM, I spoke to the district about what my team and I would like to achieve this year and that was “togetherness”. Not only have we been faced with Covid, but we have also experienced a devastating fire, riots and more recently floods. We wanted to ensure this weekend was about bringing our community together and celebrating our wins the past 2 years rather than the losses.

We have a great line up of talented musicians & bands over the duration of the weekend. For the more active we have a motorbike ride, trail ride & horse ride. For the more relaxed a generous beer garden and food selection. Helicopter flips for the adrenalin seekers and window shopping for the big spenders.

Our talented members have put on a wonderful display of floral art, kids’ art, and photography. We are thrilled to welcome back the open auction with a huge variety of amazing items up for grabs. Most importantly are our stand holders, what a variety of new innovative ideas for the agriculture sector and let’s not forget our fun family show and tug of war competition.

A weekend like this would not be possible without a wonderful support team, please bear with me as I take a moment to thank them:

Firstly to our main sponsors Nedbank & Farmers Agri-Care, without your generosity and continued support over the years this show wouldn’t be possible. To Finningley Insurance, Pro-Tect Turbo Chargers, Lincoln Haven Retirement Village, Mayo Macs, and Sanlam for generously jumping on board this year. To our BEFA members that contributed towards the weekend entertainment and to all the businesses that so willingly contributed towards prizes.

To the community for always embracing the craziness of this week. Our following entities which use this platform as a fundraising event: The Eston Club, Eston School, Nippers Pre-school, and our little Fireflies playgroup. Thank you and your teams for proving an integral part of the show.

I would personally like to thank Mark Boast our Club Chairman and Roger de Billot our BEFA Chairman for your vote of confidence in myself and my team. You have always been a call away for any advice and assistance.

Lastly my amazing committee; Belinda, Shaun, Stephen, Chelsea, and Candice. Without you I would not have made it too today. I appreciate you all. Now we get to “semi” sit back and watch our amazing community and our wider community enjoy the weekend.

Jenna Higgs

Chairlady