NEWS
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It ’ s SHOWTIME !
Show season kicks off in Walkerville this month
Autumn and early winter has become the preferred season for country shows around Gauteng . First up this month is the Walkerville Agricultural Show on 8 and 9 April at the Walkerville Agricultural Society ' s showgrounds just north of the village of Walkerville itself . One of the oldest shows in Gauteng , this year ' s event will be the society ' s 55th , and is one of the last traditional oldstyle farmers ' shows in the region . In recent years it has been growing steadily in both exhibitor numbers and attendance . Apart from stands from many commercial suppliers to the agriindustry , such as power equipment , tractors , solar energy , security , feeds and seeds , etc , there are also a large number of wellsupported bric-a-brac , craft , hobby and plant stalls . Plus , there is a good livestock section , featuring sheep and goats , cattle , rabbits and poultry etc , and showing smallholders what they can achieve on their plots .
RAINFALL
From page 8 have a knock-on effect on animal feed costs and this , by extension , should have a stabilising effect on the price of meat and poultry in the supermarkets . For horse owners and those who must rely on bought-in fodder , the price of hay should remain reasonable through the next season because cuttings are back at bountiful levels in many areas , with both good quality grass and plentiful baling being the order of the day on
One of the highlights of the show is the imaginative stand featuring not only the wildlife of the area but also some of the problems faced by conservation-minded landowners , put together by the local conservancy association and staffed by knowledgeable and approachable personnel . Children are not left out , either with a fun play area and kids ' entertainment specially laid on , including camel and pony rides and for those who are thirsty and hungry there are ample stalls serving a variety of cuisine and drink , which can be enjoyed in a large seated area under shady trees and awnings . This year the show will feature a giant pumpkin competition sponsored by heirloom seedsmen , Livingseeds . The grounds also features a well-established sand arena in which equestrian events are planned . Hopefully these will be better attended this year than last .
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many farms . For landowners , however , the good rains result in a hazard as we approach the dry months of winter and the fire season . While cutting and baling will be taking place in all of those viable areas of growth , verges , small patches and difficult corners of growth will have also grown with the bountiful rain and , as these dry out , constitute a fire hazard which needs to be taken care of if fast-spreading fires are to be prevented in the coming months .