England’s Agricultural Shows

by Stuart Harrison of Devon, UK

Once haymaking has mostly been completed, and as the latter part of summer draws in, with still light nights and half decent weather, thoughts in our part of England turn towards the sprinkling of agricultural shows held yearly in various localities.

The Agricultural Show season in the south west of England is squeezed in between haymaking and harvest. They come at a time when farmers and their families have a little more opportunity for leisure than they might ordinarily have.

In England it’s the time of year when jams and preserves get competitive, beer and cider tents are full to bursting, old tractors are scrubbed up for showing, and new tractors and equipment seek buyers. Make no mistake: it’s an important part of the yearly cycle and as farmers show and parade some of the country’s finest livestock hoping to catch a breeder’s eye or out-do their neighbours, a commercial imperative is always present.

Our agricultural shows are steeped in rural and food heritage dating back to the 18th century. Originally established by farmers to promote and sell their breeding livestock and to demonstrate the latest methods of crop production, these events now, to a greater or lesser degree, still try to keep true to their origins. Today they offer an important insight into farming and rural life to a population that is increasingly removed from, and often ignorant of, the countryside and the ways of agriculture. Such events, as well as an opportunity for farmers to celebrate their calling, meet old friends, sell, and enjoy a little fun, bring in much needed revenue to the rural economy from the 7 million people who attend Agricultural shows every year.

At some of the larger shows you might be forgiven for thinking agriculture plays second fiddle to the sale of plastic solutions looking for a problem, or to the food and clothing stalls that dwarf the number of agricultural based products offered, not to mention the bright lights and very loud music or a modern fun fair.

Perhaps it is a feature of our upbringings or ages, but Steph and I much prefer the smaller shows that still specialise in farming, both old and new, and demonstrate the country crafts of long ago. Shows like the Exford Show, the Hawkridge Revel and Gymkhana, the South Molton Vintage Farming Rally, and the Mid-Devon Agricultural Show. Shows where ice cream cone in hand and with a pint of cider awaiting us at the refreshment tent, we can lose our selves for an afternoon of pure leisure, wandering amongst long forgotten stationary engines and tractors, sizing up prize cattle, and watching the horse and pony competitions.