The Surrey County Show is held on the spring Bank Holiday and is organised by the Surrey County Agricultural Society.   

Laurence has been a steward at the show since 1978 (41 years so far!); his father Fred was a steward for about 40 years and his Grandfather Edward represented the Surrey Agricultural Association in 1954 when the show began.

I was photographed in a bowler hat, traditionally worn by the show stewards and I couldn’t resist holding up my ‘Back British Farming’ bag!   

By backing or supporting British farming and buying British or local produce when possible, this helps to support sustainable Agriculture, hundreds of associated rural businesses, the rural economy and tourism across the UK.

Viable, rural farm businesses in the UK are better placed to provide high quality, high welfare food, improved habitats, increased biodiversity and unique regional landscapes which we can all enjoy.  This may not continue to be possible if we import more food at lower standards, some of which is currently produced in ways that are not legal in the UK and some which may potentially cause Environmental damage and consequences abroad that are out of plain sight.

We’ve taken various farm machinery to the show over the years to provide a display in the main ring and this year was no exception, with a variety of tractors, combine harvester, cultivator and sprayer plus another tractor and baler provided for the demonstration by Claas dealers, Olivers. 

Laurence had arranged for a trailer-full of round hay bales to be unravelled around the ring.  The hay was subsequently collected up by the baler, producing rectangular bales in front of a packed audience. There was a moment I held my breath, hoping that the demonstration would go according to plan and I’m pleased to say that it was really successful and packed with interest and information about farming in Surrey. I hope that everyone enjoyed it.

Thanks, must go to Laurence for arranging the display and for all our team for driving the kit to and from the showground and during the display as it takes up much of Sunday-Tuesday.

On Rogation Sunday, the day before the County Show, a service ‘In Celebration of the Farming and Agricultural Life of Surrey’ was held at Guildford Cathedral.  The day produced two ‘firsts’ for us at the Cathedral: I was asked to read the second Lesson and Laurence was asked to take the combine harvester along!

The Address was given by the Reverend Dr Mark Betson, who mentioned this could become an annual celebration.  It was certainly an uplifting service for farming and Agriculture and Guildford Cathedral is quite a beautiful and peaceful place to visit.