The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fife Show outing for a name synonymous with quality
LIVESTOCK: Michael Black looking forward to president role
For almost 200 years, the kingdom of Fife has held an annual show to encourage and showcase the breeding of the best of horses and livestock.
It has evolved into one of the most steadfast and popular one-day agricultural shows in the country and for many, Fife Show is the first outing of the year.
The event takes place this year on Saturday May 20, at the Kinloss House showground, outside Cupar.
Standing as show president for this, the first of his two-year term, is Michael Black, of Newton of Collessie.
Mike farms the 800-acre unit near Ladybank on a mixed basis alongside his father Ronnie and brother Peter, juggling a busy agricultural enterprise in tandem with an expansive animal feed business.
The family’s prefix is renowned in the show community for its breeding of pedigree sheep, including Suffolks, Texels and a handful of Beltex, as well as for heavy horses, where the Collessie name is all but synonymous with the Clydesdale breed.
Although the Blacks do not often show horses at the Fife these days, they are rarely absent from the livestock prize list.
“We always try to support the sheep lines of the show,” said Mike.
“But I’ve been on the committee now for around 10 years so it has become a little harder to keep all the plates spinning.”
Indeed, Mike’s stint on the committee has seen him scale the ranks initially as sheep convener, before becoming junior vice-president and then vice-president over recent years.
“It gives me a little less time to get the stock ready, but we’ll always bring a few entries for each of the Suffolk and Texel classes because it’s become such a big part of our farming tradition.”
The Blacks last won the sheep interbreed at Fife Show, and went on to stand reserve champion of champions, in 2011, with a three-crop Suffolk ewe sired by Glenho Mr Tom – a ram they had bought at Kelso – and home-bred out of a ewe by the 9,000gn Conveth Iceman.
Another sheep with the same breeding also won the interbreed for the Blacks that same year at fellow local show Central and West Fife, after having also stood interbreed at both these shows during the 2010 season.
They also topped the interbreed at West Fife last year with a Suffolk gimmer by Lymeston Lieutenant that was on her first show outing.
The show is such a firm favourite of so many people that it really has been able to go from strength to strength. MICHAEL BLACK
“Win or lose, the show is such an enjoyable family day out,” he said.
Mike said, as much as showing is a hobby, events like Fife also bring the local farming and rural communities together on a social basis and provide a shop window for new produce, not just for those involved in agriculture, but many of its associated industries.
He said the event is important to all generations, but especially the children – with young handler and rider classes as well as a host of other activities.
“Last year we had a record 168 trade stands – including everything from local food and drink producers and cookery displays to machinery and motoring dealerships, clothing and equipment retailers and even fair rides and games for all ages.
“The show is such a firm favourite of so many people that it really has been able to go from strength to strength. “The committee all do a brilliant job. “It attracts high quality livestock and horse exhibitors from throughout Scotland, particularly those that want to get teams prepped and ready ahead of the Royal Highland, the pinnacle of the show year – but it really is a great day out for everybody.”
Adult admission costs £10, with free car parking. Children under 14 are free.