More than $30,000 was stolen from the Country Women's Association at the Royal Adelaide Show, causing its deputy president to collapse.
Last Tuesday, a man confronted CWA Deputy President Sharyn Muller, before demanding cash.
"I was demanded to hand over whatever cash notes we had," Ms Muller said.
"When I was asked for a second time if there's any more cash, I said no.
"He become threatening, that's when I became quite frightened."
Ms Muller was forced to place the cash in the suspect's dark-blue backpack.
She said he soon ran out on foot and out of sight.
"When the perpetrator ran out, I tried to follow him out," Ms Muller said.
"I realised he had gone in a gap in the fence to a sectioned off-area.
"I just ran into the cafe and collapsed on the floor."
Police have released a computer-generated image of the man.
He is described as Caucasian, aged in 40s, about 165 centimetres tall with grey and black facial hair.
Police said the man had a "distinctive" horizontal scar above his left eyebrow and tattoos on his left forearm.
He was wearing black jeans, a black top with Led Zeppelin on the front and a green cap — a comfit of the man shows him in a black cap.
Anyone who has information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
'Challenging times' for CWA
The blow comes after a three-year hiatus of the Royal Adelaide Show due to COVID.
Sharyn Muller said the money was what the organisation put towards its emergency aid funds.
"This is our major fundraiser for the year," Ms Muller said.
"We've had to find other ways to raise funds during those years."
But Ms Muller said it would not stop the organisation from continuing to do fundraising.
"We are resilient women, who are here for each other," Ms Muller said.
The association supports women in a range of ways that includes education, assistance for struggling families and domestic violence support.
She said the organisation was covered by insurance.
