It is no mean feat to bring together the many, varied agricultural categories across animals and produce for judging and display.

In the Pavilion, hundreds of arts and crafts took hours of considered collation before they were pinned with colour-coded merit cards.

Much of the Show was brought indoors this year, a nearly prophetic committee decision as showers gave the Showground a drenching.

And while the weather may have deterred a few from the sideshow rides, most people popped a brolly to stay and watch the shearing, the wood-chop, the dogs and racing pigs, among other attractions.

So, after the lull of 2016, if there was any lingering doubt about the place or purpose of an agricultural show in Goulburn, it’s gone.

This successful return to form coincided with a report from Fairfax Media economics reporter Eryk Bagshaw about the agricultural sector’s extraordinary surge of 27.6 per cent growth in 2016.

Australian Bureau of Statistics national accounts have confirmed a record harvest and “double-digit leap” in every state last year.

Agriculture made 10 times its average contribution to the economy in the December quarter, or 0.5 per cent of 1.1pc national growth, and is the morale boost farmers need to face their next challenge.

But it’s not just good news for farmers: it’s great for our city, too.

Goulburn is too often framed in both regional and national discourse as a lucky city by fortuitous proximity to Sydney and Canberra.

The implication is that our fortunes are dependant upon theirs; that when they can savour a succulent roast, we’ll be thrown the bones. And it’s true there are potential benefits for us in the metro markets.

But we can also be sure we can do just as much, maybe more, for ourselves by knowing our worth in agricultural markets and building on our 19^th century foundations with 21^st century skills and materials.

Agricultural shows have always brought the best of the country to the city folk, with the exhibits, competitions, trials and events we all love.

This year, we think our show has brought home the best of ourselves.