The big day has arrived as it always does every year. This year it has coincided with our August Bank Holiday week-end. (BANK holiday no longer has any meaning at all in our little town as we are one of those places which no longer has a functioning bank).
Yes. Today is the Wensleydale Show. Most of the Dales have their own Agricultural Show each Year. Their dates are 'set in stone' and 'ours' is always at the end of August and will be followed on Monday by Reeth Agricultural Show (Reeth being a small town/village just as one enters into Swaledale from Wensleydale) and then by Muker Show (even further into Swaledale). The last Show of all is the Show at Pateley Bridge and then it is all over (bar the shouting) for another year.
I am sure the Shows have changed a bit over the years (the vintage car parade will no doubt feature cars which I had when I first had a car) but basically it is the place where all the farmers meet and chat - farmers in the 'old days' having absolutely no time for socialising, especially as most farms up here (where it is primarily grassland) were dairy farms with milking (by hand in the old days) at 6am and 6pm or thereabouts.
All the Feed / Fertiliser / Farm Supplies Merchants have their stands and tents and most offer a set lunch to farmers who buy their supplies from them. I don't know what it is like these days when costs are so high but I do know in the days when my farmer farmed you tended to stick with your supplier and build up a relationship.
When I had two legs which would work on a field I used to go with my farmer and as lunchtime approached we would make our way to our Feed/Fertiliser Merchant, sit at a table in the tent and wait for our lunch. It was always the same - half a small pork pie, four sandwiches and a piece of fruitcake (and perhaps a mince pie) and unlimited cups of tea.
The marquees go up during the preceding week - Large ones - Vegetable and Produce Tent (Fierce competition in all classes), Flower Tent, Competition Tent (Many childrens' classes, cake classes, jam classes, photographic classes - and many more. ) These tents mean competitors have to be there early with their entries and the tents are then closed for judging and opened at around lunchtime when competitors can go and see whether they have come in the first three or not)
There are stands showing off the latest Agricultural Machinery and such like and of course - perhaps the most important of all, Shows for the Exhibition of the best cattle, sheep and poultry (Poultry in a marquee - Cattle in a Marquee but sheep (hardy and used to standing about in all weathers Winter and Summer alike) have to rough it in the open air. Rosettes abound and Supreme Champions get an extra rosette proclaiming the good news.
The farmer never missed a Show until he was in his final illness. The same applied to his father. Today friends T and S intended to leave their car on my drive and walk the short distance to the Showground. (I live very near to it) but when they tried to get out on to the main road the queue of traffic for the showground was over a mile long, so they have walked instead. Even when my carer came to me for 7am she said the queue of cattle wagons stretched back as far as the eye could see.
Weather? When the Showground opened to the public the sun was shining. An hour later there was one clap of thunder and a heavy shower. Now another hour later is is pouring with another heavy thundery shower. But we are a hardy lot up here. Although I have seen several groups of families from around me coming home (all seem to have gone ready prepared with brolleys and macs). The 'toy' of popularity this year seems to be the large unicorn shaped balloons (I had it on good authority the other week from my great grand daughter that unicorns are 'in') and each family which has included a little girl seems to pass preceded by a flying unicorn.
It is perhaps the most important event of the year up here - especially for the farming community - and long may it continue.
.JPG)
22 comments:
I love this story and the history of the agricultural shows in your area Pat. Thank you for sharing so many interesting details. I can understand how much you must miss attending with your farmer, sharing lunch, and socializing with infrequently seen neighbors from far across the fields!
My post this morning is a far cry from the countryside and details what is called 'progress' in this day and age. Sad in many ways.
Hugs - Mary
I used to love local agricultural shows. Even our village had one each year, and I remember one in particular in which it seemed some member of my family was running or helping out on most of the stalls or events. There is nothing like the atmosphere of the smaller shows, though the big ones are impressive. However they don't quite provide the same 'feel good' factor. I do hope the weather has been mostly kind in Leyburn today.
Lovely memories and I'm always envious when I hear about the smaller shows in Yorkshire as they are so different to our Huge Suffolk County Show. We have a few village produce shows but only one - The South Suffolk (in West Suffolk rather than South!) between those and the giant one.
I have just visited the Gillingham and Shaftesbury show in Nort hDorset, a 2 day event this year. I like it because it is not as huge as the County Show in Dorchester but plenty of interest as you say. Racing Shetland ponies, gun dogs, terrier races and all the cattle classes but not much poultry this year due to avian flu. It was a lovely day out so I will visit again next year and yes, the floating unicorns were in evidence. Sarah Browne.
My goodness! That is quite an event, similar, I think to our county fair.
We have Honley, Emley and Penistone shows. Cars queue for miles. People wander around eating hot dogs and drinking beer, looking for things to buy. Lots of "chub and tuck" men in shorts. No longer a pleasant experience.
Tasker = the way things are going "chub and tuck" will end up in my Chambers Dictionary by the end of next year.
What a rich experience to have enjoyed year after year!
Hugs!
Good memories Pat.
You gave your perspective as a farmer's wife, and I wonder what your childhood and teenage impressions were.
As teenagers, my best friend and I had our first ever job at the once-a-year Royal Show at a catering establishment. With her first pay she said she was going to buy her mother a pretty slip. I remember being impressed by that, and we still catch up occasionally 50 years on. Shows bring people together, and make fond memories, as you mentioned. - Pam.
I love to read about your memories as well as your daily life, Pat. We farmed in Indiana for many years and our son participated in the livestock contests. Every year we would feast on the best ham sandwiches. That was almost 30 years ago and he now lives in Michigan. We recently met up for a few days of camping in an Amish community in northern Indiana and we decided to go out for lunch one day. Our eyes locked across the table as we tasted the ham and in unison said "this tastes like the good ham at the 4H fair!" Of course, my husband smiled at the memory and we had to explain it to our daughter-in-law. Jackie (now in Georgia USA)
Happy memories of the show and wish I were there whatever the weather! last time I was there the beautiful hunt hounds were in the ring, each one named and known by the huntsman. Smooths won the terrier racing to my delight as a former smooth fox-terrier owner. (The breeder, Antonia Thornton lives just near you in Wensley.)
Pat
U know what I feel about rural shows !
I love the shared camaraderie
re Chub and Tuck: google it for images. The dilemma is whether to put it inside or outside the trousers.
These rural fairs were very important events. we used to have them but not anymore.
We always enjoyed going to the Royal Winter Fair here in Toronto, the premier show of the year here.
The world is so different from when I was a child. That's why it makes me so happy to see things which DON'T change, like your country fair.
When I was younger we always went to our biggest local show in Edenbridge; even though it was in Kent, and we were in Surrey. Other than Bonfire Night, it was the biggest event of the year. It was wonderful, and I believe it still is.
Pateley Bridge is not far from Ripon, and although my sister-in-law has taken me there for a day out several times in the past (sometimes combined with a walk around Brimham Rocks), I have never been in Yorkshire at the right time for their show.
The Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate was an unforgettable day out years ago. I would love to go again, but even more would I like to visit one of the village shows.
Tasker - at least 'over' would hide any tummy bulge but it would then leave a lot to the imagination. Your 'under or over' bit immediately brought to mind a song my father used to sing to me when I was a child 'Does Grandfather sleep with his whiskers uder or over the sheet'
Thanks to everyone. Some sunshine at the show but two very heavy showers.
There's a nice photograph of the show in the Sunday Telegraph today, with the PM in attendance.
It's nice to see shows like that, that are still retaining their how it always has been appearance, they're packed with commercial stands down this way, all selling anything from kitchen utensils and carpets, etc.
My mother used to go back to the small farm towns near where she was born for the plowing matches, every year. I guess with computerized tractors that is a thing of the past now. Me being a city girl could never see the appeal!
I love the smaller country shows, and where we are now we are lucky enough to have one every year very close to us. So I don't have to worry too much about missing the Llanrwst Show or John's Trelawnyd show every year. Although these days I don't have the space to grow enough fruit and veg to put any entries into the show.
Post a Comment