Society president Dalton Cross said the anniversary was technically in 2016 but the organisation had to focus on delivering the annual show and so its members could finish a record harvest.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you here tonight to enjoy the celebrations,” he said.

“We’re grateful to the Horsham Rural City Council and the state government for the funding to run this event.

“It is quite amazing to think that this organisation started in 1876.”

Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Pam Clarke said the celebrations were part of history as not may organisations could say they had been around for 140 years.

“From the very beginning the Horsham and District Agricultural and Pastoral Society, as it was known back then, was to improve quality of livestock and promote agriculture,” she said.

“140 years later, the society has endeavoured to achieve this aim throughout.

“John Weldon Power, the president in 1915, said ‘don’t let the society drop back from the position it is in now’.”

Guest speaker Jan Morris OAM said it was great to see so many young leaders carrying on the work of the society.

“I’ve been looking around and thinking ‘it will keep going’,” she said.

“I’m just so excited to see some young people, and there are quite a few around.

“That’s my passion, the youth and I love the boy Dalton Cross, and I know he is going to lead this place on.”