Exhibition focus on Katikati A&P show and farm life

Mayor Garry Webber tries his hand milking Daisy the cow at the A&P show.

The Out to Pasture — Farming Life in NZ exhibition is the next exciting display to open at the Western Bay Museum on Saturday.

Presented by the Western Bay Museum in association with the A&P show committee, the exhibition features relics, historic information including a photo of the Katikati A&P Show committee in 1906. Katikati and Te Puke shows were the event of the year in the 1900s.

"The exhibition takes a brief glimpse into the histories of our shows and some of the farming practices and preparation that went on to get their animals and products ready for showtime," said Paula Gaelic, the museum manager.

"We introduce local farming families like the Morton family — over 100 years of breeding grand champion shorthorns — from milking to breeding beef shorthorns, and the Turner family — over 100 years of farming sheep — rearing prized fat lambs, and the change in shearing methods over the years."

It looks at the early milk supply with Waihi Beach farmers Jack Wheeton and the Littlejohns, along with butter and icecream churns and equipment and cheese and dairy production in the early years.

And surveying and fencing the land — with some humour and heritage combined with the "lack of fencing" and Reverend Katterns and his ostriches escaping.

It looks at the Francis, Wall and Gane families, all early farmers of Omokoroa and the changes to the landscape that we see today.

The museum is also proud to be opening its permanent display — George Vesey Stewart — founder of An Ulster Plantation — Katikati.

Paula said the exhibition has taken hundreds of hours to put together with the help of many volunteers.

There are many farming links in the Western Bay of Plenty. Generations of families still live here or in the district.

This is an interesting and educational exhibition not to be missed and opens to the public on Saturday. The museum is open seven days a week from 10am-4pm, other than Good Friday and Anzac Day morning. The exhibition runs until June 1.