Mr Robertson said the New Zealand Agricultural Show (formerly the Canterbury A&P Show) ran pig competitions.
"I thought about having pigs instead."I got the idea from what they do up in Canterbury with the Lincoln University students and Young Farmers, and it is quite big."
He said people were invited to enter pigs in the Wyndham Show, which were under 9 months of age and well behaved. They had yet to decide who the judge would be, but the animals would be judged on presentation, conformation and handling.
"It can be any sort of pig," he said.
"There will be $500 prize money and there will be a lot of fun."
Mr and Mrs Eden will be supplying about 15 or 20 calves, depending on how many children had registered for the events.
Mrs Eden said they would also bring two or three beef yearlings for "the beef kids".
"Our farm is self-contained, with pedigree beef and dairy, and all our stock is grazed at home, and we have no other cattle coming through the gate," Mrs Eden said.
She said she did not want the children to miss out on the calf-handling and showing experience and it was important to continue to give them the opportunities to be involved in those activities.
In addition to pigs and calves, the Wonky Donkey man, author Craig Smith, will be there and there will be plenty of other entertainment for the crowds too.
yvonne.ohara@alliedpress.co.nz
