Andrew Winks, from Maidenwell, on ‘Woolerina Design’ took out the winner’s cheque and silver spurs in the Oakey Beef Exports Open campdraft, a highlight of Saturday’s Cooyar Show
February 23, 2026
The annual Cooyar Show has had its ups and downs since the first show was held in 1936 … disrupted by war, the weather and, of course, the pandemic.
But it always bounces back and, as Show Society president Scott Duncombe said at the official opening on Saturday, “76 years is no small milestone”.
Cooyar is the first on the annual calendar for most local residents, and is also one of the most popular.
Although it is covered by the Darling Downs Sub-Chamber, many South Burnett people enter the various competitions (and have fun on show day!).
There were cattle teams from Proston P-10 and Kingaroy State High School competing on Saturday against school teams from across the Toowoomba region.
And the students were also keen participants in the Young Judges and Young Paraders competition.
A highlight of the show is the two-day campdraft, run from early on Friday morning across several categories and culminating in the Open draft on Saturday.
Maidenwell rider Andrew Winks took out the prestige Open Draft competition.
The regular show attractions also drew a large crowd, with the sideshow rides, post-ripping and Young Farmers Challenge proving popular.
The scheduled Bull & Bronc rodeo and fireworks ensured the crowd stayed around until late, too.
The next local show is at Bell on February 28-March 1.
The South Burnett Sub-Chamber’s show circuit gets under way on March 6-7 with the Proston Show, followed by Murgon (March 13-14), Goomeri (March 20-21), Nanango (April 18), Kingaroy (May 2-3), Blackbutt (May 16) and Wondai (August 21-22).
Cooyar Show Society president Scott Duncombe, right, presented Life Membership badges to Josh and Brianna Hurley … the couple have been involved in all parts of the show for years, from Qld Ag Show competitions to co-ordinating campdrafts and the canteen; Brianna has also be Show Society secretary since 2020Roy McKee and Stewart Munro, from the Yarraman SES, were being kept busy directing traffic in the car parkAttorney-General and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington with her husband Jason, left, and Kurt Wockner from Open draft sponsor Oakey BeefCooyar Show Society Life Member Keith Duncombe was minding the gate to keep pedestrians safe while the campdraft action was happening in the main ringEnjoying another Cooyar Show were Life Members Bryan Bowen, president Scott Duncombe, Nev and Heather McNalty and Lyn McCoistThere was a team of volunteers working hard serving customers …… and preparing food in the canteen!Jo Hassan, from South Nanango, was checking out the entries in the pavilion competitionsA corner of the Show Pavilion was filled with artwork entered by local school studentsCattle producer Felicity Burton, who co-founded the charity “Common Ground” which supports rural families who need to travel after medical emergencies, opened the show … she praised the efforts of the Cooyar community who helped to raise funds for her family, Ronald McDonald House and LifeFlight after her young son was badly injured in an accident in 2018Students from Cooyar State School sang the National Anthem at the official opening of the showQuinalow P-10 entered a large cattle team at the Cooyar ShowHanding out the ribbons after the conclusion of the Oakey Beef Exports Open campdraft on SaturdayWilliam Lowry, 11, from Quinalow with the Grand Champion led steer, a limousinWilliam Lowry leads the cattle entrants around the main ring in the Grand Parade
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Gallery Of Photos
Cars, trucks and tractors starred in the Cooyar Show Grand Parade including entrants from the Kingaroy & District Vintage Machinery Club.
