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Kyabram Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Society is to receive a $10,000 grant from the Victorian Government.

The grant will assist with the costs of building a cattle and horse wash at Kyabram Showgrounds, home of the society’s major annual events the Kyabram Show and the Kyabram Rodeo.

As well as the society’s main features, the showgrounds also hosts regular horse events throughout the year.

Society secretary Janelle McDonald said funding grants were vital to enable facilities to be improved.

‘‘It’s so important to receive grants like this. It really helps us to upgrade and maintain the facilities down here,’’ Mrs McDonald said.

‘‘We haven’t updated the cattle wash for over 50 years, so it’s desperately needed. It’s something that’ll benefit the community all year long.’’

Mrs McDonald’s husband Neville, the society’s deputy superintendent of cattle, said the grants were the only way to make major improvements to the grounds.

‘‘We have a lot of volunteer work done down here which is great, but at the end of the day you need money to make improvements,’’ he said.

The society is one of 10 across the state to receive the maximum grant of $10000 and it is the third year in a row it has been successful in securing funding.

The grant is part of a $297000 roll out from the Victorian Government to agricultural and pastoral societies.

The grant is conditional on the society raising $1 for every $2 contributed by the government.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the funding would help improve facilities and improve future shows.

‘‘Shows play an important role in regional communities and these grants support the vital work of agricultural and pastoral societies across Victoria,’’ Mr Weller said.

Mrs McDonald said she was hopeful the new cattle wash would be finished by the end of May.