Show your support

I SPENT a pleasant day last Saturday as honorary veterinary surgeon at a local agricultural society’s annual show.

There are many misconceptions associated with the event. Firstly, the title of honorary veterinary surgeon has nothing to do with you being honourable and a lot to do with the fact that you are not paid for your services.

I don’t have a problem with that – it is nice, after all, to put a little bit back into the community.

The second myth is that is an agricultural show. It certainly used to be. A generation ago, cattle were king, then came sheep and finally workhorses – the Clydesdale.

Now, cow numbers have dwindled to a mere handful. A single Friesian was milked in front of an impressed but largely suburban audience.

A few magnificent Highland cattle were paraded proudly around the ring.

Sheep were scant, although 18 were sheared in about as many minutes, making me think this should become an Olympic sport.

There were seven Clydesdales, none of whom will have ever pulled a plough in anger, though they might appear soon as police horses, as their temperament for this type of work is superb.

At the end of the day, I sat with a local farmer at the top of the show ground and discussed how much it had changed in the 30 years I have been involved.

Now there is a wellattended dog show, where various mutts of different sizes (and temperament) compete for rosettes.

The pet show – nervously judged by yours truly, for the potential for social disaster is real – brings children from all walks of life with guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, lambs and hens.

The so called “industrial section” is awash with carrot cake, plain scones, home drawn pictures and amateur photography. The quality of baking is television standard.

The horse section is now the main earner for many local shows as entry money is used to subsidise the marquees, PA system, insurance, traffic control, first aiders, litter bins, trophy engraving and ground repair costs.

Yes, indeed, it all adds up but still people try to creep in without paying.

I am sure there will be an “agricultural” show on somewhere near you this summer, no matter where you live.

They are great at bringing people together. They are fantastic places for children to see real animals and learn about their welfare (and where milk and eggs come from).

Please support them and the hard-working volunteers who run them, if you can.