Opinion: Agricultural show season highlights role of community

It’s time to iron your lab coat, pick out your favourite zip-fleece-and-rugby-shorts combo and head to your local showground – show season has begun. 

Some have questioned the relevance of the modern agricultural show because, to attract greater crowds, larger shows now include food and drink festivals, celebrity appearances and large retail sections.

However, if you look through the sea of saunas, carved oak garden ornaments and knock-off dealer boots, the trusty agricultural community is still at the beating heart of the show.

See also: Lucy Nott – Dutch farm buyout sets wrong precedent

About the author

Lucy Nott

Farmlife opinion writer

Lucy lives with her husband, a sixth-generation farmer, and their two children on a 100ha (250 acre) arable farm in Worcestershire. On the farm they have a passion for regenerative agriculture and aspire to transition to a regenerative system. They are also part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot and are trialling lots of new things on the farm. They hosted their first LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) this year and Lucy is now the LOFS Ambassador for the West Midlands.

Read more articles by Lucy Nott

Farming has never been easy, but the one constant through all the generations has been the community.

At certain times we are all guilty of becoming isolated, being blinkered by our work and spending too much time on the farm.

But, even if you don’t see them regularly, knowing that you have a network (big or small) of like-minded people can be a great comfort.

Swap the sticky floors for grass fields and it slightly reminds me of our former local nightclub glory days.

We wouldn’t bother checking who else was going out that night, as you could always guarantee that you’d walk on to the dance floor and immediately see several people you knew. It was a familiar, comforting feeling.

One of knowing that you are in the right place and that you have found your tribe.

As Covid reminded us, nothing beats those face-to-face interactions and chance encounters.

These serendipitous meetings give you the chance to catch up with old friends, spark new ideas and ask the important question of “are you OK?”

People may question the relevance of modern, glossy agricultural shows, but these larger crowds of “non-farmers” can connect with farming and food production, while farm-to-fork diversifications have the opportunity to sell their products to new customers, and they are great events for spreading positive agricultural PR.

Yet, despite their new look, the shining star of the county show will always be the display of top-class British agriculture.

Like the majority of farms, agricultural shows have adapted to survive and, by collectively supporting that change, we will help keep our communities alive for generations to come.