Devon Agricultural Shows – A Very British Event
May to September is agricultural show time here in Devon. This year, I have already attended five shows and will be attending one more before I put my Panama hat away until next year.
I have been attending these shows for over 65 years, so, unfortunately, I do not have the best of memories of the first one I attended: Chagford Show, Dartmoor. As a six-year-old who had regular riding lessons on Saturday mornings, I was asked to show a Dartmoor Pony and was all kitted out in my jodhpurs and riding hat.
I was led into the judging ring and as I lined up with the other ponies, I leant forward to pat the pony’s neck. Alas, the girth had not been sufficiently tightened and so I slipped round until I was almost under its belly. Needless to say, I failed to win a rosette and had to be consoled with an ice cream!
The Devon County Show, like many other county shows, is a three-day event. It is the first county show to be held each year and is eagerly awaited by farmers, exhibitors, sponsors, judges, stewards, locals and visitors.
I have been a steward in the Vice President’s and Sponsors’ marquee for many years; it is a wonderful place to meet business colleagues and friends over a coffee, a drink or to enjoy an excellent lunch.
A couple of years ago at the Devon County Show, I bumped into a sheep farmer from Northumberland who I had been at agricultural college with in the 1970’s and who I had not seen for 40 years.
This year, Recoco Property Search sponsored the Devon and Cornwall Longwool Sheep class. This is one of a number of native breeds in Devon which includes White Faced and Grey Faced Dartmoor sheep and the Devon Closewool breed.
I am always very impressed with the amount of effort and time that breeders of cattle and sheep put in to preparing some of their best animals to show and be judged at these agricultural shows. Judges come from far and wide to inspect, consider and give their professional judgement awarding different coloured and highly prized rosettes for Best in Show and Best in Class.
I like to get to these shows early when the morning mist is lifting and wander around the livestock as they are receiving the final brushing of their coats and combing of their tails. One of the classes is the Young Handlers Class where young boys and girls, some as young as 6 or 7, lead calves or sheep into the judging ring.
Most shows have an area containing tractors of all ages including blue Fordson Majors of the 1940’s, bright orange Allis Chalmers from the 1950’s and the little, but much loved, grey Massey Fergusons of the 1960’s. In this area you will frequently find a couple of senior aged farmers leaning over the fence reminiscing as to when they or their fathers last ploughed with horses and bought their first tractor.
Away from the livestock and tractors, and in the main ring, a variety of events take place to please all the family from show jumping, elegantly dressed riders on pony or horse drawn carriages competing in the Concours D’elegance, various motor cycle display teams, the hotly contested Young Farmers Club Tug of War competition and with the show being brought to a close with a performance by the local town silver or brass band.
One of the most popular parts of any agricultural show is when packs of local foxhounds parade in the main ring. The children are then invited to mingle with the hounds before races are held between hounds and children where they run from one end of the ring to the other. The children always win!
If the day is sunny with cotton wool clouds floating across the sky, there is nowhere better to be mid-afternoon than watching the Grand Parade of Livestock in the main ring. As the different classes of cattle, sheep and goats are led into the ring for the cups to be presented by the Show President this is a most colourful and traditional English country scene. Even the pigs are not forgotten as the champion pig of the show is brought in on a trailer.
There is no dress code for those who attend these shows, however, I am always fascinated by what I see. Traditionally, the stewards are expected to wear suits and Bowler hats; the judges of the foxhounds at The South West Hound Show, which forms part of the Honiton Show on the first Thursday in August and is often one of the hottest days of the year, wear dark suits and Bowler hats, whilst in other parts of the Show there are often visitors wearing T-shirts and shorts. If the weather is fine, then linen jackets and Panama hats are the norm but at the Okehampton Show in the second week of August I had to resort to a winter coat and flat cap to keep dry in the persistent Dartmoor rain. If, however, you are showing livestock or a steward in the Bee and Honey tent then white coats are obligatory.
Whatever the weather and whatever you are wearing, you will never be short of good, locally produced food and drink at these shows. Whether it is a bacon bap and a cup of coffee to start the day, a sit-down lunch in the Members’ marquee or a pasty and a pint of cider, in the afternoon a traditional Devon Cream tea, (where of course the jam is on top of the cream), or a refreshing glass of Pimm’s at any time of day - all will be found.
Many of these agricultural shows have been running since Victorian times with the Honiton Show first established in 1890. They are all run by dedicated and hardworking committees and stewards who give their time - free of charge - to ensure that all who attend, whether they have two legs or four legs, have an enjoyable day to remember.
Robin Thomas
Recoco Property Search Buying Agent and Farms & Estates Specialist for Devon, Cornwall, Somerset & Dorset