Horse-drawn carriage rides, wool spinning presentations and milking demonstrations will be among the historical farming practices that attendees of the 2025 Copper Coast Show can get involved in.

The show’s theme is Back In Time, and it will have a strong focus on agriculture education, both old and new.

There will be goats, cattle, alpacas and sheep to take a look at, as well as calves and piglets to pat and baby chickens to hold.

From watching sheep dog trials and shearing demonstrations to getting tactile in the Ag Learning Centre with sensory tables, jigsaw puzzles and painting muddy pigs, young showgoers will gain an insight into the agriculture industry.

The learning centre will also include aquaculture education and activities run by the Marine Discovery Centre, and a range of machinery dealers will attend the show to display the latest in agriculture technology.

“The show is a great way for people to learn about and meet people from our local community organisations and ag industry,” CC Show organising committee chair Natasha Westbrook said.

“Entering classes in the show is also a great opportunity for people to display their skills as we aren’t all necessarily good at sport or music.”

The day before the show even begins, the Northern Schools Livestock Expo will also immerse school students in the field.

Eight schools will be competing with their cattle, merino wethers and goats, which they have learnt to feed, groom and train to be led.

“It’s a lot of stuff around animal husbandry and nutrition and also learning about the competition side prepping them for the show arena,” Ms Westbrook said.

“Working with animals also teaches connection, bonding and mutual respect, which is also a big benefit for those senior kids.

“We had a student last year who joined the led steer team and then ended up working for one of the local studs and going to shows in Adelaide, so it was a real life-changing moment for her, developing her self-confidence.”

Ms Westbrook said exposing young people to agriculture would hopefully inspire them to consider it as a pathway.

“Several schools will bring their reception to year two students to watch the big kids and hopefully be inspired to choose ag as a subject at high school,” she said.

“The farm kids will become the farmers, but the kids that live in town we need to be our farmhands, agronomists, truck drivers and diesel mechanics.”

The 2025 Copper Coast Show will be held at the Kadina Showgrounds on August 16 and 17; visit coppercoastshow.com.au.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 29 July 2025.