Farmers fight back for show success (From Free Press Series)

Farmers fight back for show success

THE local farming community is poised to make an impressive comeback at next month's Chepstow Agricultural Show.

One of the major attractions at this year's show, which is being held on Saturday August 14 at Broadwell Farm in Crick, promises to be the cattle and sheep entries in the livestock classes.

Organisers say that the level of entries indicate that the local farming community have at last banished the nightmare of the foot and mouth disease which ravaged the county back in 2001.

Since that disastrous year for local farming, when a number of local flocks of sheep were destroyed, the stocking levels are beginning to return to pre 2001 levels although they do remain down on the overall levels previously farmed.

Entries at this year's Show reflect the above difficult period for farming with the competitors beginning to return to this enjoyable one day show.

The last two years has seen a gradual increase in numbers of competitors in the sheep, cattle and dairy cows sections and this year promises to continue that trend.

Jean Jones, who has been the livestock section secretary for the past six years, said: "The amount of interest from local farmers has been very encouraging this year. I am getting calls from people wanting to enter the show who I have not heard from before. It's taken a long time but it seems that foot and mouth is finally behind us."

She added that general preparations for the show were well in hand and that the layout of the show site in Crick had been changed to make the show an even more enjoyable day out for visitors.

Chepstow Show remains the cornerstone for the farming community in South East Monmouthshire and local farmers interested in competing should contact the Mrs Jones on 01291 641627.

Trade stands and commercial enterprises should contact the Trade Stand Co-ordinator on 01291 621800.