Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show
Encyclopedia
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
organised by The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, which takes place at the beginning of June each year, at Wadebridge
Wadebridge
Wadebridge is a civil parish and town in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town straddles the River Camel five miles upstream from Padstow....
in North Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
The show lasts for three days and attracts approximately 120,000 visitors annually, making it one of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
's major tourist attractions.
Events include:
- Judging of cattle, sheep, horses, goats and various other domestic animals
- Sheep dogSheep dog- Animals :*Livestock guardian dog, a dog used to guard sheep and other livestock*Herding dog, a dog used to herd sheep and other livestock- Computer science :*Sheepdog a distributed storage system for QEMU/KVM - Songs :...
trials - Riding competitions
- Driving displays
- FalconryFalconryFalconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
- Games and sports
- Craft show
- Live music
- The culmination of the county cup for the Cornwall Young Farmers' Club.
Given its Royal
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
status it is not unusual for a senior member of the Royal family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
to attend at the Show. A familiar sight is Prince Charles who is acknowledged to be a keen supporter of the farming community. Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
attended the 2009 show.
History
The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association was founded in 1793, and has been known by that name since 1858.The show was held at Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
between 1827 and 1857, but from then on the venue changed every year. Since 1960 the showground at Wadebridge has been its permanent home.
Business
Most major businesses with links to agriculture will have a trade stand at the show. Given the number of farming people at the venue it is regarded as a vital opportunity to attract new business as well as to network with current customers.Social Event
The show is particularly significant for young people who live in farming communities in CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. It is regarded as one of the highlights of the year and as an opportunity to socialise with old friends and make new acquaintances.