It comes as organisers this year have included a farmers market and craft beer taste testing for the first time in order to attract younger attendees.

This year’s Wagga Showgirl and Charles Sturt Nursing student Emma Ball said she is forming a sub-group focused on bringing a more youthful edge to planning the show. 

Ms Ball, who grew up in Dubbo, said regional shows across Australia all had to adapt to stay relevant. 

“I think shows are a vital aspect of the community and a great way to showcase what our community has to offer,” she said.

“It is very clear if we don’t get more young people involved our shows are going to die.” 

The 23-year-old said the sub-committee would start after this week’s show and meet once a month over the next year to help formulate new ideas for the event.

They will also be trained up by older show society members on how to run certain events to take over in the future. 

“We need young people in the committee,” Ms Ball said. 

“We need young people to bring ideas forward so we can change things a bit and improve what we are doing.”

Show society secretary Aileen Storey and treasurer John Stewart said there was always going to be a place for agriculture shows, however, the delivery of attractions had changed.

There was growing interest in purchasing locally made produce, which had resulted in the inclusion of a farmers market on Saturday. 

“We are an agriculture show and part of our brief is to have anything agricultural, it’s a new innovation for us,” Mr Stewart said.

“I think it is a great addition for our show.”

While interest in some crafts such as needlepoint had remained steady in recent years, entries in the photography and millinery have exploded in numbers, Ms Storey said. 

While there was a need to evolve, the event would always serve a purpose.

“We are in our 152nd year, shows are always going to have a place,” Mr Stewart said.

“The relevance of them are changing  but in a big town like Wagga it’s also an avenue for entertainment.” 

For more information on this year’s Wagga show go to www.waggashow.com.