The show's chief executive officer Margot Falconer said the adverse climate conditions had not affected visitor numbers, although there were about 100 less sheep than usual.

"We've had beautiful crowds and we've just been blessed with the weather - it's been superb," Mrs Falconer said.

Read more about this year's show:

Mudgee merino breeder Andrew Rayner had been hit hard by the drought, but still travelled to Bendigo for what was his 19^th consecutive row.

The fourth generation farmer claimed the ribbon for grand champion ultrafine ewe on Saturday.

Mr Rayner - whose father and grandfather before him also attended each year - said the show was a good benchmarking tool as a breeder.

For the Mathews from Corowa, the show is not only a good business opportunity but a time to spend with family.

Kim and Rodger Mathews are also yearly attendees, showing and selling sheep.

This was the second year their grandson, seven-year-old Oliver, has travelled from Sydney to spend the school holidays with his grandparents and enjoy the show.

"I love to come down here, it's family time," Mrs Mathews said.

Flashback: The 2018 Australian Sheep and Wool Show, in pictures

Outside the exhibition sheds on Saturday morning was Rex Hocking, who was about to put his dog Washpool Tom through his paces in the yard dog trials.

Mr Hocking and his wife Kay are commercial sheep producers from Avenue Range in South Australia, but also breed working dogs.

"He's got to be your mate, and you've got to spend time with them," Mr Hocking said of training a good working dog.

Organiser of the yard dog championships, Rod Cavill, said there were more competitors this year than in previous competitions, with entrants from four states.

"We had a very strong field," he said.

For the first time this year was the Feed Central Interstate Challenge, a competition that pitted competitors from different states against one another in what Mr Cavill described as being like a Twenty20 match.

He said the response to the event - which was intended as a fun escape from the more serious trials - was positive and it would continue in future years.

With the 142^nd Australian Sheep and Wool Show now finished, attention turns to the massive clean-up and packing-up effort, which is expected to take until Friday to complete.

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