Earlier this year Warialda residents were left asking, are we even having a show?
Drought was putting pressure on many livestock operations, the town was battling and community members were preoccupied.
But in true bush spirit stewards and committee members made it their priority to pull together an event, even exceeding last year's entry numbers in a range of competitions.
"Back in January or early February people were saying, 'Are you even going to have a show?' it was that bad," president Doug Barnett said.
"We just said we have to have it. It's very important for the local people to get out during these times. Some areas around are absolutely desperate."
In the rodeo ring the novice bull ride hit 45 entries, double last year's numbers, with 20 nominations for the steer ride.
The most successful fleece exhibitor was Ken and Eleanor Brown, Westwood, Gravesend, who claimed the grand champion fleece out of 58 entries, one more than last year.
The Browns usually run about 2000 breeding ewes of 19 micron on their 1800 hectare property but are back on numbers due to the drought.
Based off Langdene genetics, the couple's entries were the result of an earlier mid-March shearing.
"We are nearly a month early due to the drought and we thought it might have been wanting to rain so we shore early to avoid wet weather," Mr Brown said.
"It's just between Eleanor and Athol Plain from Inverell who comes every year picking fleeces.
"They just go through and pick the good ones as they come off the table. There will be up to 20 or 30 lying around."
Hughie and Michelle Coulton, Tallangatta, Warialda Rail, were close behind with the reserve grand champion fleece of the show and the champion single novice fleece.
The Coultons run a 970 hectare mixed farming operation with both meat and wool sheep, cattle and cropping.
Their winning fleece was shorn on July 18 with their flock based on Haddon Rig genetics.
They also received champion grain of the show with their wheat entry.
Knowing seasonal conditions would be a problem to their livestock competition, stewards spent time individually contacting local producers and were rewarded with 60 head in the prime cattle.
It was Glen Miller, Glen-Wy Partnership, Warialda, who was named most successful exhibitor after winning grand and reserve champion beast of the show, champion yearling or steer, champion pen of three yearlings or steers and champion pen of three vealers.
Dunrobyn Park, Gravesend, had the heaviest beast of the show while Ken Barnett, Warialda, was successful in the group classes.
In the stud cattle ring, about 60 head were nominated to compete under judge Wendy Mayne, Texas Angus, Warialda.
The supreme beast of the show was awarded to the senior champion bull, Neridah New Direction N11 exhibited by Neridah Poll Herefords, Glen Innes.
Also successful on the day was 4 Ways Charolais, Inverell, who were named champion breeders group. They also exhibited the Junior champion bull of the show with 4 Ways North Star N46E and the senior champion female in 4 Ways Noissette M83E.
The junior female was Emross Darling Girl from Emross Shorthorns, Delungra.
The supreme pair of heifers went to Heitiki Droughtmasters, Inverell, with the pair of bulls to Reevesdale Poll Herefords, Inverell.
Champion led steer was Louis, a Limousin cross from Marble Pastoral, Inverell.
In the junior events, champion judge was Shania Connolly, Stanthorpe, Queensland, with Mia Hobday winning the under 15 paraders and Beau White, Inverell, taking the older class.