Best Marketing Campaign Large Section Finalists

/

Bendigo Show

In such a large town the Bendigo Show has a wide range of marketing strategies to target all demographics but the focus for their 2024 campaign was to maximise reach to families with primary school age children and 50 plus age groups. TV and radio promotion has been a main pillar of advertising with the TV with Seven Network that involves sponsorship as well this includes an additional 100% advertising placements, and the radio covers two radio channels suited for two different demographics. This is complimented with cinema advertising, and APCO Fuel Station digital ads across a 12-week period leading up to the show.

Social Media is an important part of the campaign which begins about 12 weeks out from the show and is such a cost-effective way to reach so many and be able to track the outcome of engagement, which for this campaign over the 3 months 126,900 individual views over that period. The result of the marketing was achieved with the second best attendance over the 2 days with 19,000 patrons attending.

Berwick Show

A Daily Prize Grab was the feature of the Berwick Show’s Marketing Campaign for their 2025 Show and was developed in response to the need to expand the reach within their community. The competition could be accesses through the QR code with flyers distributed across the local area and prizes included entry tickets, ride passes and vouchers for local businesses. Overall, this campaign was nearly no cost due to generous donations of time and vouchers to support the prizes.

As entrants entered the competition their details were captured and 50% of entrants requested to go on the mailing list and 22% of entrants had not heard of the Berwick Show previously. The campaign has provided a foundation for future years to develop and improve the engagement with the community.

Best Marketing Campaign Medium Section Finalists

/

Natimuk Show

The Natimuk Show aimed to promote the Theme of Music for their 2025 Show and this theme showed in their marketing as well. With many components included in their marketing campaign from 500 printed show schedules, 200 printed posters, 4000 Natimuk Show Children Section Flyers, 2000 Natimuk Community Showgrounds Flyers, 2 ABC Interviews, Digital Signage and entrance signage into the town of Natimuk, radio advertising plus newspaper articles and ads really reached the public with an increase in overall entries and attendances on the day.

The Facebook page was used to post links to the VAS Ltd Website, where they used this resource as an opportunity to upload plenty of information including the schedule, posters and entry forms totalling over 2100 click over a 3-month period. A considerable budget was spent on the marketing, but the rewards were received with many positive comments about the show with an overall increase across the show.

Best Marketing Campaign Small Section Finalists

/

Koroit Show

With a new and exciting concept, the Koroit Show had to really showcase the new Koroit Show/Field Day and they engaged with the Warrnambool Standard to help with an advertising and editorial spread leading up to the event. This ended up being an 8-page spread and the Standard advised that there were over 10,000 copies of the paper were sold. Advertising spaces were sold to the exhibitors attending and a map was also provided, which contained a list of all exhibitors. The local radio network was also engaged along with some other publications locally.

A new Facebook Page was set up, which gained traction as more posts were shared, and traders were starting to engage with the page. The budget for the marketing campaign was spent to what was set out from the start and some of it was offset with advertising covering some of the 8-page spread in the paper.

Best Innovation Award Large Section Finalists

/

Bendigo Show – Kid Zone

The idea was to use a shed that use to offer commercial trade site spaces and the aim was to create a safe and engaging space that entertained the kids and all activities were free to attendees. The space included comfortable seating for parents/guardians, facilities for nursing mothers and also sensory area. The play areas targeted to encourage imagination, active movement and social interaction. Some of the activities included a maze, chocolate toss, animal nursey, magician, building towers, sandpit and much more. This innovation doesn’t happen without a range of volunteers to help set up, manage the crowds on show days and then pack up. The comments and satisfaction from attendees was very positive and this space will be continued to be developed to change the activities from year to year.

Bendigo Show – Live Crop Display

The innovation of a live crop display aims to bring the origins and production of food to life in a captivating and educational way. The exhibits are nearly a year in the making growing multiple crops in crates to showcase oats, canola, wheat, barley, corn, peas & sunflowers. Next to each crate on display is a bucket of the seed and also facts about each crop to engage and be informative to all attendees. It aims to bring a snippet of the production of food and what a crop looks like up close. This innovation has now been partnered together with the grain & fodder competition classes and ties in well to showcase a snippet of the agricultural industry.

Foster Show – Calf Classic

The idea of the Calf Classic was a throwback to the calf club competition of neighbouring towns from the 1930s – 1980s. The competition engaged with all ages of children, and the aim was for the competitors to get involved in the care and exhibition of the calf they have raised in the previous 8 months prior to the show. An education session was held before the show to focus on the leading and grooming of the calf in preparedness for the show. The classes on show day were Best Presented, Best Led Calf and Best handler broken into three age groups. On the day there was plenty of support with a large crowd watching and sponsorship was received for bags of feed and ribbons, but no cash prizemoney was provided as the educational component of the competition was the main aim.

Kyneton Show – Country Parkour

The Country Parkour is a dynamic outdoor obstacle course designed for children to climb, jump and move through at their own pace. It is a free activity coordinated by show volunteers that use repurposed and recycled materials underneath the shady trees that line the showgrounds. It is an activity that may not be normally seen at an agricultural show, but it provides a high energy, inclusive and creative experience for young attendees. It is one of the shows most popular and talked about attractions with enthusiastic feedback from families and kids return to it again and again. It is a cost effective attraction to the society and is a visual symbol of when local people come together can create such a positive space for attendees.

Sunbury Show – Battle of the School Choirs

The Sunbury Show has an entertainment stage, and the aim was to attract more attendees to the show, and it was noticed when one local school came to perform and then a dance school came to perform it attracted so many people to the grandstand full of family members watching on. So, it was decided to start a Battle of the School Choirs and after a couple of years nine schools competed in 2024 totalling 360 students involved plus all the family members in attendance were able to experience the show and it created more engagement with the community to get them to the event. A Bunnings sausage sizzle was done to raise money for the prizemoney for the competition as reasonable prizemoney attracted more schools. There has been so many positive comments from the schools and how the students look forward to the event every year.

Best Innovation Award Medium Section Finalists

/

Lexus Melbourne Cup at Nathalia Show 2024

The objective of the innovation was to bridge the gap between metropolitan and regional communities by giving the 2000 residents of Nathalia the chance to directly engage with an iconic piece of Australia’s sporting and cultural heritage the Melbourne Cup. The show also had the privilege of hosting Melbourne Cup winning ex racehorses Prince of Penzance and Twilight Payment along with leading Australian female jockey Jamie Kah. It sparked a new way of engaging with the community, which attracted them to the annual show. The show also themed sections in the pavilion and had an increase in entries, such as horse themed Lego, floral arrangements and much more. The innovation has left a positive impact on the morale within the society after running such a successful event, which has effectively built new partnerships and sparked an exciting positive engagement with the community.

Best Innovation Award Small Section Finalists

/

Koroit Show – Koroit Field Day

The societies future was in doubt and attendances falling so the society recognised they needed to go back to their roots of an agricultural show and engage with the local community again. The aim was to fill a space of 200m x 200m with agricultural machinery and trade stands. Local businesses were approached but word of mouth worked its magic with over 65 exhibitors attending. Demo Dairy Foundation supported the event, which ended up delivering guest speakers and demonstrations throughout the day. The feedback from all attendees was very positive and moving forward the Koroit Field Day will be a 2 day event. The field day approach now compliments the livestock and homecraft competitions and ensures the future of the society with a positive outlook for the future.

Pakenham Show – Make & Wear Competition

This competition is for the sewing section and the aim is for the exhibitor to plan and make an outfit and these garments need to be able to be worn. Every year the show has a theme, and this competition uses that theme. In 2025 the theme was Bees so entrants used bee printed fabric and previous entrants are already waiting for the 2026 theme so they can start their entry. Local businesses have come on board as sponsors of the event offering monetary or vouchers and have been apart of the judging process as well. This initiative was started by a Junior/Senior Ambassador due to her studying a diploma in Fashion Design & Technology.

Yarram Show – Honeyeater Trail Showbag

The trail showbag was introduced to attract more attendees and engage with the community plus create a different way of seeing the show. Starting off with 100 showbags in the first year the show partnered with local businesses to donate products for the bag such as water bottle, toothbrush, cheese, a hat just to name a few and these products were collected around the show at trade stands and as they collected, they had a number stamped off on their passport. Once the trail was completed then they could return to the office and complete the form to go into the draw to win a gift card supplied by a sponsor. Great feedback was received, and comments were made like “I have never seen the whole show before” and this innovation also creates a little extra revenue for the society. This innovation was started by a Junior Ambassador and she built great partnerships with local businesses.

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION AWARD - Finalists Announcement

/

Congratulations to all who have been made finalists of the 25 - 39 years section & 40 years & over section. Below is a listing and we can't wait to feature these finalists in the coming weeks for you all to see. Full results will be announced at the VAS Ltd Convention 12th July.

25 - 39 Years Finalists

  • Bendigo Show - William Francis

  • Camperdown Show - Jasmine Edwards

  • Pakenham Show - Tess Runting

40 Years & Over Finalists

  • Donald Show - Nicole Nunn

  • Foster Show - Robbie Davidson

  • Kyabram Show - John Smith

  • Pakenham Show - Geoff Young

  • Swan Hill Show - Reginald Packer

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN AWARD - Finalists Announcement

/

Congratulations to all who have been made finalists of the Small, Medium & Large Sections. Below is a listing and we can't wait to feature these finalists in the coming weeks for you all to see. Full results will be announced at the VAS Ltd Convention 12th July.

Small Section Finalists

  • Koroit Show

Medium Section Finalists

  • Natimuk Show

Large Section Finalists

  • Bendigo Show

  • Berwick Show

BEST INNOVATION AWARD - Finalists Announcement

/

Congratulations to all who have been made finalists of the Small, Medium & Large Sections. Below is a listing of their innovation and we can't wait to feature these innovations in the coming weeks for you all to see. Full results will be announced at the VAS Ltd Convention 12th July.

Small Section Finalists

  • Koroit Show - Innovation: Koroit Field Day

  • Pakenham Show - Innovation: Make & Wear Competition

  • Yarram Show - Innovation: Honeyeater Trail Showbag

Medium Section Finalists

  • Nathalia Show - Innovation: Lexus Melbourne Cup at Nathalia Show 2024

Large Section Finalists

  • Bendigo Show - Kid Zone

  • Bendigo Show - Live Crop Display

  • Foster Show - Calf Classic

  • Kyneton Show - Country Parkour

  • Sunbury Show - Battle of the School Choirs