August 11, 2016. For immediate release

New president for Wanaka Show

The Upper Clutha A&P Society, owners of the Wanaka Show, has elected a new president as preparations for the 80th event are underway.

Well-known Wanaka man Doug Stalker was voted the Society’s president at the AGM on Monday night.

Stalker, a helicopter pilot and fencer who has spent the past two years as senior vice president and the two years before that as junior vice president, is joined by Grant Ruddenklau as the new senior vice president and Mike Scurr as the new junior vice president. Stalker replaces Tarras farmer Robbie Gibson, who has held the president’s role for the past two years.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be elected president,” Stalker says. “What makes it pleasurable is having a good, solid, enthusiastic team around you – including the Show committee, our sponsors and our many volunteers – all of which help put on a hugely popular, major annual event for Wanaka.”

Stalker has been involved in the Wanaka Show for most of his life, having competed in equestrian events as a child and teenager, and had parents who were heavily involved at committee-level. He has also spent more than 10 years in charge of the cattle section of the Show.

Stalker acknowledges Gibson’s contribution over the past two years: “The Wanaka Show has evolved significantly in recent years and Robbie certainly helped move it along. He has been instrumental in securing corporate sponsorship for the Show and will continue to help with this. We’re a not-for-profit society so it’s essential that we gain sponsorship to help deliver an event of national significance.”

Farmlands Cooperative has just signed on as strategic partner for a further three years.

“It’s fantastic to have Farmlands on board again and we are grateful for their support. Farmlands share the same principles as we do, of providing a supportive network for the agricultural and pastoral industries, and they see benefit in having a major presence at the Wanaka Show. It’s a win-win,” Stalker adds.

Farmlands Cooperative manager for Central and North Otago Grant McKay says: “We are proud to be a strategic partner for the Wanaka Show. It’s a great partnership as we both have a strong affiliation and involvement in the rural sector and community. We would like to acknowledge the Society for their support and effort in making the Show a fantastic success and we look forward to working together to build a strong future for the Wanaka Show.”

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for the 80th annual Show, held on March 10-11, 2017. Next year will be a busy one for the Society, which also hosts the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) conference in Wanaka and the RAS National Golden Fleece Exhibition on June 23-24.

ENDS

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