It's a right royal occasion at Feilding's Manfeild Park on Friday as Manawatu hosts the Royal A & P Show for the first time since 2002 .
A consortium of Manawatu interests is running the Royal A & P Show for the next two years.
Consortium chair Murray Meads says having Royal Show status puts it on another level from the normal A & P event.
He says livestock competitors from all around New Zealand will compete at the three-day event.
More than 2000 exhibitors are competing in the livestock competitions, more than 1000 horses are competing in equestrian events.
Mr Meads says they are hoping more than 20,000 people will visit the show over the three days. The Royal A & P show gates open at 8am on Friday.
