After posting yesterday about how little rain we’ve had, it rained on and off all day. Not just rain but hail, too. And it’s turned bitterly cold.

The wet weather just had to coincide with the annual Daylesford and District Agricultural Show.

We were in two minds as to whether to brave the cold and rain and attend the show, but after we’d finished shopping in town, the sun came out. We decided to take a chance.

No sooner had we parked the car at the showground than the rain started pelting down. It stopped soon afterwards and started again a little later. And so it went like that all day.

At the dog arena contenders for best-in-show were being shown off.

Not all of them seemed eager to parade in front of strangers, though. 

Some seemed totally uninterested in proceedings while others were raring to get out there and mingle. 

By the way, tents and wet dogs don’t make for an especially captivating mix of aromas.

The farmers were out in force, displaying their best stud rams and sheep.

A farm along the road was well represented although I didn’t recognise any of the sheep. I think they’d been specially styled for the occasion.

Spectators at the dressage arena were in short supply and we had a good view of the prancing ponies.

We made comments in flutey voices such as, ‘My word, that gel has a fine seat,’ and admired the groomed-to-within-an-inch-of-their-life steeds.

Apart from having been led around in a circle on horseback once, when I was 11, I have no experience of horses. 

I can tell you, though, that damp horses smell a great deal better than damp dogs.

No agricultural show is complete without displays of produce, flowers, cakes and handicrafts. The Daylesford Show has once again showcased the breadth of talent in the district.

Unfortunately most of the exhibits were behind mesh, designed, we surmised, either to prevent flies landing on them or to stop small children handling them.

But neither flies nor small children were in evidence when we toured the exhibition hall.

We ran into an acquaintance who was bitterly complaining that the flowers in his arrangement had dropped en route to the showground. His display had been brilliant, colourful and loud; just like him, he said.

He was dressed in dapper style, in a cream coloured suit and trilby with a beautifully co-ordinated shirt and tie. 

His flower arrangement did look a little sad but he really shouldn’t have been disappointed because he’d won second prize for his efforts.

While the kids had little interest in viewing the handicrafts, cakes and flowers, they were keen to try their luck in side-show alley.

Most country children aren’t yet jaded by the onslaught of high-tech games.

Low-tech rides like the ferris wheel and dodgem cars still hold a strong appeal, as do the try-your-luck-and-win-a-prize stalls.

Agricultural shows are a little off the beaten track for weekend daytrippers to the area who’d probably much rather indulge in sampling regional food and wine or relax in a day spa. 

But for a good hit of country life, nothing beats a district agricultural show. Check out the list of forthcoming shows at the Victorian Agricultural Shows website. 

They’re not terribly sophisticated but they’re more fun than you’d imagine and they have a lot of heart. Pretty much like most country folk.