"I've been walking around with a smile on my face, soaking up the atmosphere."
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Those were the words of Bedgerabong Show special guest Murray Wilton, General Manager of Agriculture at Sydney Royal Show, at the official opening of Saturday's event.
An estimated 1000 people flocked to Bedgerabong Show in brilliant Spring weather on Saturday.
And the Sydney Royal Show representative said there were elements of the day he wished he could take back to the main Easter event.
"It's a wonderful environment where the community comes together," Mr Wilton said.
Saturday's Show had something for everyone including free belly-dancing and whip cracking lessons and dog high jumping.
Chainsaw sculptor Rob Bast had spectators all day, and the eagle, Murray cod and working dog he created fetched up to $1000 apiece at the evening's auction.
Forbes' own racing mowers headed out to put on an exhibition race, with hopes they'll inspire locals to be part of it in 2020.
Entertainment continued after sundown with Walter Whip, who lit up the night cracking burning whips within a ring of fire.
Dan Herbert, whose father HJ Herbert was Bedgerabong PA and H's first president, pushed the plunger to set off the most spectacular fireworks display in the country show's history.
Showgirl Heather Earney was one of the thrilled organisers, and is positive country shows are "on the up and up".
They're a wonderful opportunity, she says, for education as well as entertainment.
Daughter of Show president Andrew and secretary Anne, the Bedgerabong local says she's glad she turned down an opportunity to move to Melbourne when she finished studying.
The serenity, and the community, are two of the benefits: she's also closer to work with Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon and Co in Forbes or Condobolin than she was to work in Melbourne.
Following in the family footsteps, Heather has had a long involvement in the show.
From the children's flower arrangements through gathering recipes and advice to bake the best scones, to the day she showed her first cow.
"I got a ribbon because I smiled the whole time," she remembers. The Show still makes her smile.
Heather is now a member of Next Gen, which is for 18 to 35-year-olds and sits under the Royal Agricultural Show Society.
They're encouraging young people to get involved and remain involved in their local shows.
One of their grants funded the recent junior judging training day at Bedgerabong.
Heather also received an RAS Foundation scholarship that helped her do her honours project into lamb survival.
Foundation scholarships are available again now, and Heather encouraged other young people who have to travel away from home to look into them.
The scholarships are for tertiary studies and consider how you can give back to rural and regional communities, she said.
