Why the 'truly agricultural' Royal Cornwall Show matters

BBC News

05-06-2025

From farmers showing their prize animals, or businesses showing off their latest ranges of machinery, the Royal Cornwall Show celebrates everything related to farming. Farmers, competitors, organisers, exhibitors and businesses have shared what makes the event special for them.
The Royal Cornwall Show has roots that go back to 1793 when the Cornwall Agricultural Society was formed and a ploughing match was held near Truro.These days it is the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, and since 1960 the event has been based in Wadebridge.Between Thursday and Saturday, about 120,000 are expected to attend this year to see some of the abundance of displays, from animals to food, floristry to forestry.Ian Hodge, who has a dairy farm next door to the 95-acre showground, is one of the stewards in the countryside area and has been attending since the 1970s.He followed in the footsteps of his father who started stewarding in 1968 and did it for 40 years.
"My brother is a steward, my father in law is a steward, and my brother in law is a steward so we do quite a bit to help," he said."[My father] was chief steward of the main entrances and met all the royals - he loved it."In that time he said he has only missed one day, in 1978, when his mother made him stay at home because he was unwell."I remember being mad that I had to go and spend the day with Nan... I made a miraculous recovery and away I went the next day," he said.
Mr Hodge said the event was a chance "to see everyone in the farming community coming together" from across the county and beyond."It's truly agricultural, unlike some of the others which have tended to move away from that... it is certainly in the top four or five shows in the country as being very agricultural, but it does cater for other things as well," he said.His daughter Bea, 24, is chairwoman of the Wadebridge Young Farmers club and has been on site for several days preparing for the club's display, having won last year with the club's Dad's Army themed entry.
She shares her father's devotion to the show, and said she had also never missed a day."Even when I had exams, I would walk up in the afternoon - not even my maths GCSE was going to stop me going to the show," she said."So many farmers don't go out and about because they are so busy doing their farming. "The show is just such a big three days in the calendar and they know when they get to the show they are going to see someone they know."
Animals are at the heart of the show, with thousands across the site, including sheep, horses, pigs, goats, rabbits and pigeons and many others.The cattle lines are the highlight for many visitors, according to show organisers, with the cattle ring being a popular spectator spot.Entrants from 16 breeds of cattle will compete for more than 200 prizes - with the ultimate accolades being for those named as supreme beef champion, or supreme dairy champion.James Warren is a dairy farmer from St Buryan in west Cornwall and has taken 15 animals this year, a selection of Guernseys, Jerseys, Holsteins and Ayrshires.Two years ago he had the supreme dairy champion, a Jersey, 10 years after achieving the same with a Guernsey."It's a bit like training at athlete - it takes a lot of planning, but you need a bit of luck too," he said.
'I sleep with my cows'
His animals were taken to the showground on a lorry and two trailers on Tuesday to settle into their surroundings - and Mr Warren also makes himself at home. "I sleep with my cows, lying beside them on straw bales or perched in an old reclining chair we take along," he said."I probably get four or five hours sleep a night - you wouldn't do it if it wasn't enjoyable."Preparations include taking about 700kg (110 stone) of fresh feed to the site each day and milking the cows at just the right time so they are "at their optimum" when they enter the ring.This is not the only "trick of the trade", Mr Warren explained."We use a bit of hairspray, give them a bit of trim and use a hairdryer to make their backs look as straight as possible for the judges," he said.Asked whether his cows enjoyed their time away from their day jobs on the farm, he said: "They get a lot of pampering and just lie down and wait for food to be put in front of them. "It's a relaxing time for them."
For big and small businesses, established large-scale manufacturers or first-time artisan producers, the show provides the "perfect showcase of Cornwall's diverse and thriving business landscape", said the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce.The South West Business Council estimates exhibitors generate about £20m during the event.Nick Vincent is part of the third-generation of his family to have taken the farm machinery business, Vincents, to the showground."It is the biggest machine stand at the show - I have tried scaling back but it just doesn't work," he said."As a family we have been going every year for 60 years. My grandfather has attended every show - he is 91 this year and will be there again."The business has always had the same prominent stand on "the main drag", and this year will have 51 units on display, ranging in size from a leaf blower to huge tractors, excavators and mixer wagons.
'Real team effort'
While some trade is done at the show, Mr Vincent said it is more "about being a great opportunity to connect with customers"."People are in a different frame of mind at the show, a bit more relaxed and social," he said."Each stand has a vibe and we want customers to come and feel welcome, with absolutely no expectation of buying anything."It does put pressure on the business, and is costly - the lead-up is intensive. "The team has had to prepare the machines and staff have been moved around, but when we finish the guys are proud."It is a real team effort and everyone pulls together."
The food and farming area is described by its organiser Hairy Harford as "the thing most other county shows have lost"."To be in, you have to be from Cornwall," he said."We are really proud of what we've done, and Cornwall should be proud of the food and farming producers."The area has 60 producers of goods ranging from pickles to peanut butter, garlic to gouda, spread over three marquees.His company, Helston-based Vicky's Bread, will sell about 1,500 to 2,000 loaves there.He said: "We are there selling bread and will sell a lot, but that is not why we are there. For us it is fun. "We see our customers and are excited to see them, and they are excited to see us.""The Royal Cornwall, with Yorkshire and Wales are the last shows that are very real. "You've got farmers, proper people, big tractors - it hasn't just become about the rides like some others. It is a real agricultural show."