Primestock show is cancelled
ORGANISERS of one of the Westcountry’s leading winter primestock events have said it is “with regret” that this year’s event has been cancelled.
Agrifest South West, formerly known as Beef South West, has been running since 2004 and attracts some of the very best commercial and pedigree livestock from across the country.
Held annually in November at Westpoint, near Exeter, the National Beef Association (NBA) South West announced earlier this year that the organisation behind the Devon County Show - the Devon County
Agricultural Association (DCAA) would be taking over the running of the specialist beef and lamb event, following the retirement of its longstanding secretary, Vicky Smith.
But in a statement published on the Agrifest South West website this week, a spokesperson from the DCAA Board of Management said the show - which had been due to take place on Wednesday, November 6 - has “lost the confidence” of a number of its “major stakeholders”.
“In January this year the Devon County Agricultural Association were delighted to take on the running and financial underwriting of the 2019 Agrifest South West event,” it states.
“Our ambition was to see the event grow and flourish, under the management of our experienced team, but over the past few months it has become apparent that the event has lost the confidence of a number of major stakeholders.
“Without the support of these stakeholders the DCAA Board have with regret decided that it cannot go forward with this year’s event.”
In 2018, Agrifest South West saw over 50 agricultural businesses in attendance with trade stands, along with support from an additional 25 through sponsorship, but footfall was “disappointing”.
The statement continues: “Whilst the 2018 event hosted a first-class primestock show the footfall was disappointing and many stakeholders felt the event needed to be reformulated to reflect the needs of farming in the future. The DCAA will now start consulting on what this might look like with a view to launching a new fresh event in the future.
“The DCAA Board would like to thank all those stakeholders who have been committed to the event in previous years, particularly its volunteer stewards, its sponsors, exhibitors and trade stands.”
Away from the livestock judging competitions, Agrifest South West has provided a platform for an array of political and technical speakers, including Tiverton and Honiton MP Neil Parish, to share with farmers the latest industry policy developments and technological advancements.
A series of winter primestock shows will kick off with the Cornwall Pedigree Beef Calf Show on Sunday, October 27, taking place at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge.