It’s a postcard picture of rural New Zealand: Sheep shearing, weetbix and jugs of beer.

The Rakaia Railway Tavern was packed wall-to-wall for this year’s Pendarves Young Farmers charity speed shear.

Hundreds showed up to watch denim jeans and singlet-clad farmers battle it out on a small makeshift stage in the corner of the tavern.

43 sheep were shorn on the night, brought to the pub from a Mitcham farm.

Perdarves Young Farmers chairperson Ashleigh Bell was stoked with the turnout.

“Usually we have quite big crowds, but I feel like we’ve got more than we usually do.”

She figured that was the result of some farmers double dipping, with the Ashburton A&P Show and shearing competitions on the next day.

The event kicked off with a club versus club boot challenge between Foothills and Pendarves - perhaps the most stereotypically Kiwi thing you could lay your eyes on.

“One person had to eat a dry weetbix, another had to skull a pint of beer and another had to shear a sheep.”

After the club event came the general rounds where people competed for a prize pool of $4550.

Lionel Taumata was there for the money, and to reclaim his title.

“I’ve done a few, and I won this one last year.

His wife and son, Hudson, watched on as he gently positioned the sheep and glided his shears across it with the accuracy of a painter, getting the job done in 26 seconds.

“I’m a little bit shaky, little bit nervous. There’s really good competition,” he said.

Taumata, originally from Gore, has been working in Rakaia and travels around the country to contract shear and compete.

He was one of numerous competitors off to the show the next day - though it was going to be a late night for him.

Club committee member Brad Isherwood was the designated wrangler for the night, hauling sheep off and on the truck from 7pm to late.

“The turnout’s been bloody awesome, and lots of people have donated to Hospice.”

It was Isherwood’s first time helping with a speed shear and, with the success of the night, likely won’t be his last.

“It’s just a good family event, and everyone can get amongst it.”

He welcomes people to join the club, and get in line for next year’s competition.

Bell said while the event raised money for charity, it was an excuse to get farmers together.

“The pub brings people to a social place.

“We want to get people off the farm to have a beer, have a feed and enjoy their night.”

She said from donations, the raffle and sponsor auction will go towards Mid Canterbury Hospice.

“They’re a really good foundation, and we’re super chuffed to be donating to them because we feel they’re a little unrecognised in our community.

“People all end up having a brush with hospice at some point in their life, or know someone who has.”

She assured everyone that the sheep were well taken care of and needed a shear before they “all turned into shrek.”

The clean class was won by Sam Story, James Wilson won the senior class and Brett Roberts won the open class.

For anyone interested in joining the Pendarves Young Farmers club, head to their Facebook page or email them at [email protected].

By Anisha Satya