In the good old days when we had a Department of Agriculture, we had large marquees, half the size of a circus tent. We had one for the North Island, and another for the South Island.

        At each Agricultural & Pastoral (A&P) show we would erect this tent and fill it with displays for farmers, and the general public, showing the latest information on rural research and new varieties of crops etc.

        When I worked at the Seed Testing Station I was a ‘jack of all trades’. One of my tasks was to design and staff displays for shows.

        The Superintendent of Shows had a heart attack and was advised not to travel. I was asked to deputise for him and to assist Len Hobbs, our driver and supervisor on the South Island Show circuit.

        The Department had a large ex-army four-wheel drive truck to carry the displays and the large marquee around the A&P shows. I was handy because I held a heavy driving licence so I was able to share the burden of driving.   

        It was hard manual work putting up this large tent and unpacking and refreshing the many displays. Most of the South Island show grounds seemed to be on old river beds, and swinging a huge wooden mallet to drive in the stakes was hard work. It was harder still to pull them out.

        An A&P show was always a great social event and much entertainment was carried out by the Departmental staff, stock agents, and representatives of agricultural firms.

        We were always in a hurry to pack up as we usually had a few beers with the local staff once this was done.  At times we would have trouble to get people to go home so our Apiary instructor would often let some of his bees out to help clear the tent.

        At one Royal Show in Christchurch Knox French-Wright confided with me he was brewing a barrel of honey mead.

        Knox had been in the Navy with me, and had been my best man at my wedding in Timaru.

        He had even purchased an oak barrel as he was determined to do the job properly.

        Knox knew I was friendly with Ivor Foster, one of the judges at the Royal show.

        He pleaded with me to bring Ivor around to sample his mead. I did this and Ivor took a taste and said, “This is good, I think you should enter it next year in the show.”

        Knox puffed up with pride until Ivor added, “Don’t enter it in the mead section. Enter it in the vinegar section. You could have a winner here.”

        During these days I learned the importance of getting attention with a gimmick and having simple topical displays.

        Active exhibits were always popular where people or animals were doing things. Too many exhibits are made up of photos and contain too many words. They should be kept simple.

        People are lazy readers. They don’t want to spend time reading charts. They have come to see ‘what’s new’ and to be entertained. It’s their day out to meet friends and have fun.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember,

I do and I understand.