Forget Egypt, Katikati is the place to be next month if you want to enjoy some creative outdoors fun constructing scarecrows – with two separate competitions in town.

First up is the Katikati A&P Show’s Scarecrow Competition, which this year has three categories – for children, adults, and community groups.

Entry is $2 per scarecrow – drop off creations at showground’s Home Industries Hall by 2pm, January 31.

“Scarecrows can be any size or form but must have some straw inside somewhere,” said Katikati A&P Show secretary Sheryl Smith.

Winner of Katch Katikati's scarecrow making competition at the Katikati A&P Society 90th Annual Show held Sunday, February 5, 2012 at the Uretara Domain, was won by Lilli, Bella, Hannah and Evaline who made ``Fat Farmer Freckles''. Scarecrows created at a past Katikati A&P Show. Photo / File

The scarecrows will be displayed at the Katikati A&P Show from 9am, February 1. The overall winner will be a people’s choice vote. “Let’s fill the showgrounds with colour, character and plenty of country charm,” said Smith.

“We can’t wait to see what our creative Katikati community dreams up.”

Meanwhile, the Grow On Katikati community group is planning its own free scarecrow-creating workshop and competition, which will take place February 14.

Spokesperson Jizzy Green said the combined event on February 14 at the GOK shed on Beach Rd was to offer the community a more fun-filled activity connected to gardening.

GOK – a project that inspires food resilience, one backyard at a time, in the community – previously hosted workshops that covered topics such as how to preserve, or save seeds.

“Last year we hosted a wine and sign event – which encouraged participants to be a little bit more creative in the garden,” said Green.

“This year we thought it would be great if we could again host something creative – to bring a sense of fun into the backyard.”

The Scarecrow Workshop and Competition has three categories – cultural, creative and team effort.

The cultural category is for those who want to theme their scarecrow around their culture or family roots.

“We’re thinking if you hail from Scottish heritage you may add items such as a bagpipe or kilt. If you’re Māori you could use a piu piu or add a moko.”

The creative category would enable participants to let loose with their creativity in any form, while team effort is for those who want to participate as a family or a group of work colleagues etc.

“Or this could be for Valentines, since the event is on February 14.”

Turning Point Trust Tauranga had donated excess clothing for the event and Green had approached local op shops to source un-saleable clothing too.

“However, if you plan to enter the cultural category you will need to bring resources with you.”

Thanks to sponsors, gardening-themed prizes will be given to winning entrants from each category chosen by judge Steve Graveson of Katikati Open Air Art. Spot prizes will be handed out too.

Green said it’s important to register for the event before February 1 so her team can arrange scarecrow frames.

“Katikati Menz Shed is building the scarecrow frames – so we need to know numbers early so we don’t run out of frames on the day.”

The Scarecrow Workshop and Competition is on February 14, from 10.30am-12.30pm at the GOK Shed, next to Katikati Community Centre at 45 Beach Rd.

To register, email: membersgrowonkatikati@gmail.com

*Egyptians are believed to be the first people in recorded history to use scarecrows, to protect their wheat fields along the Nile River.