From Stampriet to Gobabis - show season gathers pace

From livestock champions and stud auctions to sport, music, fashion and family entertainment, Namibia’s agricultural shows remain much more than exhibitions.They are meeting places where farmers, businesses and communities come together, with agriculture at the centre.With the 2026 Stampriet Show now concluded, attention turns to Gobabis, Grootfontein and Keetmanshoop.Gobabis takes centre stage next, with its annual agricultural show running from 24 to 26 September.Fresh injection for GobabisGobabis Show Society chairman Danie Opperman says the annual show is receiving a fresh injection of energy this year, with three new committee members bringing new ideas to the event. “We take it and run. It’s a new injection, and a good thing when young, new business people become involved.“We are very excited,” Opperman said.The Gobabis Show has connected farmers and businesses with the Omaheke community for more than 60 years, he said.Despite the new ideas and broader programme, livestock remains at the heart of the show.“The animals are the most beautiful,” Opperman said. “It is always incredible how much effort goes into getting animals show- and advertisement-ready.”All cattle breeds will appear in the show ring daily this year, he said.Nineteen exhibitors will present 162 head of cattle, while about 70 oxen from 13 exhibitors will also be on display.The small-stock section is expected to attract 240 animals from 15 exhibitors.Opperman said agriculture remained the central pillar around which rural shows are built.During his term as agriculture minister, now-retired Calle Schlettwein described agricultural shows as a stimulus for traders and entrepreneurs to recognise agriculture as a priority sector for inclusive growth, food self-sufficiency and food security, as well as an anchor for economic progress and social transformation.More than livestockWhile livestock remains central, the Gobabis Show also offers a broad social and entertainment programme. “Socialising and sport remain important parts of the programme, with the Thorn50 relay races and a volleyball tournament among the sporting attractions,” Opperman said.As in Grootfontein, a fashion parade will add another dimension to the programme.Children will also have plenty to see and do, with dog and horse displays among the attractions.Music lovers can look forward to live performances by Vaughn Ahrens and Neil Somers.“Gobabis is this year’s focus show as part of NTV Afrikaans and partners’ ‘Skou-Rondomtalie’,” Opperman said.Gobabis champions return to the spotlightAt the 2025 Gobabis Agricultural Show, communal stud breeders from the Omaheke region made their mark in both the cattle and small-stock rings.Opperman said Okanene Brahman Stud, owned by Kakunanganda Korupanda of Epukiro, produced Pule, who won the Champion of Champions title and five additional sub-category awards.“Kalahari Range Stud also enjoyed success, with its Brahman bull President awarded Reserve Champion. President also won the Group Three class alongside cow Clowley and calf Rose,” he said.In the small-stock section, Okaundua Farming, owned by sheep breeder Tjiuu Kaunatjike, produced a Meatmaster ewe that won three individual awards, including Junior Champion.Gobabis-based Ironwood Trust, managed by Leon and Sarita Steyn, also won the Heifers division at the Agra Weaner Championships.Opperman said the results highlighted the strength of livestock breeding in the Omaheke region and set the stage for another competitive show this year.The season rolls onAfter Gobabis, the agricultural show season moves to Grootfontein before heading south to Keetmanshoop, which will host its show from 27 to 31 October for its 70th edition.“Town shows are more than isolated annual events. They form part of a wider agricultural calendar in which breeders showcase their genetics, businesses connect with customers, farmers exchange knowledge and communities come together,” the Keetmanshoop organisers said.From the livestock ring and sports field to the auction pen and social programme, agricultural shows continue to play an important role in rural Namibia.“They create opportunities for breeders to showcase their genetics, businesses to connect with customers, farmers to meet one another and communities to celebrate together,” the organisers said.For the towns that host them, the annual shows are more than another event on the calendar.“It is a celebration of agriculture, enterprise and community,” the Keetmanshoop organisers said.Stampriet small-stock showcaseWhile Gobabis prepares to take centre stage, the 2026 Stampriet Show, held from 29 August to 4 September, placed Namibia’s small-stock industry firmly in the spotlight.According to the organisers, the show is regarded as the country’s largest small-stock show. It remains an important hub for small-stock genetics in southern Namibia, with elite sheep and goat breeds taking centre stage.“This year’s Champion of Champions was a Van Rooy ram bred by Hendrik Prinsloo, while the reserve champion was a ram from Samehaling Dorpers, owned by Pieter van Schalkwyk,” the organisers said.Among the ewes, the champion came from Strauss Dorpers, while the reserve champion was awarded to Conradie Boerbokke, owned by Dirk and Dawid Louw.The scale of the Stampriet Show was also reflected in its auction programme. The ewe auction featured 189 Meatmaster ewes, 72 Boer goats, 57 Dorpers, 57 White Dorpers and 43 Van Rooy ewes. The ram auction brought 165 Meatmaster rams, 113 Dorpers and 83 White Dorpers into the ring.The goat section featured Boer goats, Savanna goats, Indigenous goats and Kalahari Reds.The commercial sector was also represented, with Agra Stampriet running animal-health promotions and Würth Namibia using the show to launch its new custom-built Mobile Shop.The wider Stampriet auction circuit also produced strong results, with a Dorper ram bred by JJ Du Toit selling for N$55 000 to Adriaanse Farming CC.

From Stampriet to Gobabis - show season gathers pace

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