Saturday 29 August 2009

agricultural Shows.





























It is the Show season here in North Yorkshire. Over the next two or three weeks each area will hold its own Show - all will be hoping for fine, dry weather - these fields can get so wet underfoot that visitors can be wading through mud by the end of the day otherwise. And - worse still - tractors will be needed to pull the cars out of the car park on to the road. But today - The Wensleydale Show (our local show, within walking distance of the farm) was held on a fine, chilly, blustery day. It usually attracts a crowd of around twenty thousand and I guess that is about how many would be there today. The local silver band were playing jolly tunes, various activites were taking place in "the ring" - heavy horses, trotting carriages, local fox hounds, vintage vehicles, a sheep dog troupe. The produce tents were buzzing with activity
Around the edges of the field livestock classes were being judged, rosettes given out, the supreme champion crowned - all the cattle and sheep had been shampooed and set so to speak - they looked lovely, their coats were shining, they even smelled lovely too.
The feed merchants all have stands and it is the tradition that each farmer is given lunch by his feed merchant - so we had delicious sandwiches of roast beef and a big slice of Yorkshire Parkin to sustain us.
I hope you enjoy the photographs I took - sit back and look at them and enjoy the show!
In the group class the theme was PICNIC and the most delightful entry - which won first prize - made me think of Raph of Raph's Ramblings (I know he loves Wind in the Willows) Ratty, Mole and Badger were there as were tiny tea cups, tiny cakes and tiny slabs of chees - Raph you would have loved it.
#Photos from the top left to right: Winning group entry PICNIC (wind in the willows); the winning fruit pie; vintage vehicles arriving; Holstein Supremem Champion; Jacob Ram; Prize winning dahlias; Showground by the sheep pens on a lovely day.

25 comments:

steven said...

hello weaver. steam engines, home made pie, flowers, rosettes, and a band.
like a kaleidoscope!!!!
i love reading and seeing the events of your life. have a lovely day in the dale. steven

Dominic Rivron said...

I ran past the Wensleydale Showground today. I think "Father Ted" had the last word on rural Shows (the Craggy Island Show). I'd actually like to enjoy them, but don't usually find anything that grips me.

Jane Moxey said...

Ooh a slice of parkin! How delicious. My mother had lots of family in Yorkshire (Sheffield) and her parkin was so yummy! Thanks for the lovely pictures of what looked like a lovely day!

Heather said...

When we had to take our holidays in August for the childrens' school holidays I used to love to visit shows in whatever area we were staying. I'm glad the Riverside Picnic won 1st prize - a very worthy winner. Steam engines are another favourite - goodness knows why. We've been to a very small show today - nothing like as grand as yours but enjoyable nontheless.

Titus said...

Traction Engines! I love traction engines! That photo made my heart sing, thanks Weaver.

Amy said...

I love agricultural days, we call them field days here and actually ours is comingup in November so I will take lots of photos to show you :-)

Janice Thomson said...

I love agriculture shows - since I am moving back to the farmstead in November I will look forward to going again next year.
Wonderful photos Weaver.

Linda S. Socha said...

This so brought memories of those time when I LOVED
doing county fairs and festivals. I stilol love them!Thanks for sharing this one.....
Linda

SG said...

Wow!! That does look and sound so cozy and relaxing.. I would like to spend a holiday there.

Golden West said...

Those dahlias are gorgeous! What a wonderful outing on such beautiful day. I especially love the Riverside Picnic - very clever!

Arija said...

I love ag. showa and you have given us such beautifully representatice photos here. The Dahlias are always a big deal here as are the local produce and photography where I have scooped the pool on several occasiions.
Glad you had decent weather for it too.

Jeannette StG said...

The Dahlias are gorgeous! No wonder they got a prize. But what first caught my eye were the Holstein cows - I maybe a city girl, but these cows originate from Friesland, where my hubby had his childhood (NE Holland)-and they're very proud of their cows:)

kimber said...

That pie looks scrumptious! I love fall exhibitions -- the food, the animals, the people. It's a great reminder of where food REALLY comes from (hint: not a grocery store!)

BB said...

Well g'day!!! I love a good ag/country show... I see many similarities and constrasts with our version... isn't the atmosphere fabulous??

Feel free to drop Down Under anytime, and check ours out:

http://bushbabe.blogspot.com/2009/05/chaos-cows-and-you-little-beauty.html

With these kind of weird sports involved:
http://bushbabe.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-much-wood-would-wee-woodchopper.html

Cheers!
BB

Mistlethrush said...

Thanks for the photos - they really capture the spirit of these shows. The standard of these events is always very high. I remember mum used to enter local flower shows (floral art section). Each entry was a big palaver but stunning when done.

Gwil W said...

Dominic, There's generally a nice little show at Caton. They have a race up and down Clougha Pike. It'd do you. Don't know when it is but it must be in FRA book or website. Done it a few times. Always good weather!

cherie said...

your post remonds me of the upcoming state fair! fun time!

Unknown said...

Hello Weaver,

Second time lucky. Having typed a comment, I saw my connection had gone down!

I had said, surely no picnic would be complete without Toad - but maybe he was causing chaos with the traction engines?! And parkin used to be my favourite but I haven't had a piece in years. I shall have to try and remedy that! Glad you had a good day.

Unknown said...

We have fall fairs in Canada to end the harvest season. The first in Ontario is the Canadian National Exhibition, which is loosing it's focus as a fall fair and becoming more and more like a corporate sales venture. The highlight of the CNE yesterday was Bill Clinton. He wasn't the "sold out" speaking guest promoters had imagined. If he embodied anything to do with Canadian culture, I might have been more enthusiastic. They could have successfully promoted the Canadian astronauts who recently returned from the space station instead. The Royal Winter Fair in November is our main Agricultural Show. Yours looks like it belongs to a community of people, like a fall fair should and not to corporate sponsers and promoters. i loved the dahlias!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

How wonderful, Weaver! I love the Wind in the Willows picnic entry, with all it's detail, even to the contorted willow branches in the background! The little tea-set looks lovely and the food - I'd love to sit down with the characters at their picnic! Thank you so much for thinking of me.

Anonymous said...

Great photos Weaver, I enlarded them to have a good look, especially Wind in the Willows well worth scrutinizing...and the dahlias!! Our Royal Agricultural Show starts in a couple of days here in South Australia,very large and always enjoyable.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Steam engines, apple pie, beer tent what more could you want.Dominic must really hate these shows if he had to run past?

Dave King said...

Wonderful post. Superb photographs. Next best thing to being there.

BT said...

I just love local shows and we are going to one next Saturday. It has a small indoor section but a large horse and outdoor section. A super post and lovely photos.

BT said...

My mother (from Halifax) used to make parkin on bonfire night. It was delicious.