Packed programme of shows ahead (From Gazette & Herald)

Packed programme of shows ahead

3:01pm Thursday 22nd March 2012 in Farming news

ONE of the most important traditions in the spring and summer farming calendar in Ryedale is the village shows and fetes and the agricultural shows in our region are a wonderful way to spend a day out with an array of events to keep all the family entertained.

The atmosphere is always friendly and attractions range from the traditional to the modern. In larger shows established classes for cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses run alongside dog shows and fur and feather sections.

Handicrafts and produce sections might have classes to cover every conceivable interest and skill, ranging from chutney making to crochet, photography to patchwork and carved walking sticks to corn dolly making.

You might get the chance to see fun events, too, such as sports you won’t find at the Olympics along the lines of straw bale tossing, welly wanging and tug of war.

At the bigger shows there are plenty of less traditional attractions too, such as motorcycle stunts, vintage and classic cars, and perhaps even a parachute display team will drop in.

On the food front, there will be plenty of fresh local produce to munch on as you wander around the stands, from hog roasts and hot dogs to locally made ice creams, cakes and sweets.

And at shows throughout our region, all you will have to pay for this day’s entertainment, often in a gorgeous setting, will be a few pounds per person.

As well as the agricultural shows, there are flower shows, food festivals, game fairs and traction engine rallies – in fact something for everyone.

Great or small they all have several things in common – a sense of timelessness, the smell of fresh grass and lots of happy smiling faces.

Here is a calendar of this year’s shows, fairs and food festivals, at which many farmers sell their home grown and reared produce:

May 20: Malton Food Lovers Festival

June 4: Duncombe Park Country Fair, Helmsley

July 10-12: The Great Yorkshire Show, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate

July 18: Driffield Show

July 22: Malton Show

July 25: Borrowby Show, Borrowby, near Thirsk

July 29: Huby & Sutton on the Forest Show

July 31: Ryedale Show Welburn Park, Kirkbymoorside

August 2-5: Pickering Traction Engine Rally, Pickering Showground

August 7: Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show

August 8: Thornton-le-Dale Show

August 15: Danby Agricultural Show

August 18: Rosedale and District Annual Show

August 22: Egton Horse & Agricultural Show, Egton, near Whitby

August 25: Bilsdale Show

August 27: Farndale Show

August 27: Burniston Agricultural Show, Flatts Farm, Scarborough.