Well the weather gods were smiling for us for this year’s show.  The sun managed to shine for the show period, a brief dry interlude, during what can be only described as a soggy old summer. This, I’m glad to say, brought out the crowds resulting in a good attendance on a par with the year before. We had a new look showfield for this year with some major layout changes. The main one being the creation of the entertainment/ picnic area at the east end of the showfield, which worked well as a first-time venture and will develop into an integral feature of the show.  Also the food festival was moved to a larger site with an improved internal layout and seems to have been very popular with the visiting public. Jaqueline O’Donnell once again proved a popular attraction in the food festival kitchen.  There were lots of stands exhibiting a great deal of local produce in the food hall and the cheese competition once again had many entries. Home and garden exhibits were excellent again this year.  The ingenuity and skill shown by the exhibitors is amazing.  I always enjoy helping to make up the shedules and seeing how the entrants interpret the different classes especially so in the junior sections.

All the livestock sections were well attended.  The numbers being shown were much the same as in past years. This year we hosted the Scottish Limousin Club Grand Prix so had some additional entries from around the country for this. Sheep entries were up, mainly as a result of the sheep committees decision to split the Bluefaced Leicester classes into crossing and traditional type.The horse section proves ever popular on both the Friday and Saturday of the Show although we may have to look at some way to restrict spectators from wandering  around the rest of the field on the Friday when the stands are setting up for the Saturday.

Jim Milby was this year’s recipient of the J M Rome award. Jim recently retired from the Dumfries NFU office which he had run to great effect for many years. There were also 8 long service awards, a great achievement for all those individuals providing great service and stability to both their employers and their families alike.

Once again there were a number of car boot sales held at Park Farm, a circus, the Beltie Beer Festival, vintage machinery rally and also a horse show.

Many thanks to the many sponsors of the show and the trade stands and livestock exhibitors without whom the show would not be possible .   Also, to the Directors, Stewards and Attending Members whose continuing dedication and hard work ensure the smooth running of the show.