Organisers of last weekend’s Nottinghamshire County Show have hailed the event as a huge success – and say it will help them support farmers whose work puts food on local families’ tables.
More than 15,000 people attended the one-day event, which took place at the Newark Showground, on Saturday, drawn by its mix of animals, entertainment, food, music and competitions.
It was the 138th time the show has been held and among the highlights of the day were a performance from the Barlow Red Barrows, a bumper turn-out in the livestock competitions and a fly past from a Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
There was also food and drink on sale from local suppliers, live farriering competitions and the return of the Young Farmers’ Clubs’ popular lawnmower racing.
The Nottinghamshire County Show is organised by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, which is a registered charity set up to support, champion and promote agriculture across the Midlands region, including providing training and financial support to agriculture students and other people who work in the industry.
Its work takes place all year round, but the event is its annual showcase and fulfils its charitable objective of keeping the public informed about the food and business objective of local agriculture.
Show manager Elizabeth Halsall said: “Everyone is thrilled with the success of this year’s show and hugely grateful for the tremendous support we received from everybody who took part, whether as volunteers or stewards or competitors and exhibitors, as well as the wonderful crowd who came along.
“Everybody knows the issues that are currently affecting our food industry and so to receive such a high level of interest in the show at a time when agriculture has never been so important to us all is extremely encouraging.
“Our Society works hard all year round to support the industry and there is no doubt that the show’s success will gives us a strong platform for us to continue that work during the next 12 months.”
Among the visitors who appreciated the opportunity to find out more about the world of farming at the county show were Wendy and Philip Chamberlain from Aldercar.
Wendy said: “We really enjoyed the Red Barrows and the lawnmower racing, both of which were excellent fun, and we liked being able to see heavy horses up close and seeing just now big they are.”
Fellow visitors Mark and Susie Shirra travelled to the show with their three-year-old daughter, Erin, from Nottingham, keen to give her a glimpse of what life in the countryside is all about.
Susia said: “I last came to the show 10 years ago and it’s lived up to my expectations, especially the trade stands, the flower arrangements and the animals.
“Erin really likes the horses and the countryside games, as well as getting in and out of the emergency vehicles. It’s been really good seeing people from different ways of life coming together.” The Society is now hard at work organising its next event, the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show in November, while the date for next year’s Nottinghamshire County Show has already been set – 11 May 2024.
