The crowd was down on the 2016 show, but organisers were still pleased with the support, despite heavy rains last month flooding parts of the district.

Ararat Show Society president Murray Woods said other shows across the state had been cancelled because of the wet weather in September and October.

“The problem was everywhere you went everything was wet,” he said.

“Some people thought they wouldn’t be able to display stuff.

“Other shows have been cancelled because it was too wet.”

A number of competitions drew increased entries for this year’s show.

The wool fleeces were up on 2016, while the handy craft, home industry, cooking and preserves sections all had strong results.

The poor weather had left entries in the flower section down on previous shows.

Competitors also took to the trotting track for the 2016 sulky event, which involved a sprint down the main straight to the finish line, between three sulkies.

A protest following the close finish resulted in race judges voting to re-run the race a second time.

It took a photo finish to then separate the competitors.

Mr Woods said a small committee of seven or eight people had put together the 2016 show.

“It is a tough gig and a hard game to keep it going,” he said.

“There are seven or eight people on the Ararat Show Society.

“We need to get schools involved in different things, we have got to get young people involved, so we have new blood and get things rocking.

“We are all getting over the hills, our youngest member would be 45.”

He said the show society wanted younger members to be involved and help reinvigorate the 2017 event.

A Showgirl competition was also not run this year due to a lack of interest.

Mr Woods said it was disappointing, but the show society was determined to bring it back next year.