The Devon County Show is an

agricultural show An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which selective breeding, breed ...

held annually from Thursday to Saturday in the third week of May at the Westpoint Arena and Showground in Clyst St Mary near

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

. It is one of a number of

county shows in the United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, a county show is a summer outdoor agricultural show. The events have competitions, with prizes awarded by judges, allowing farmers and breeders to show off their cattle or crops. There are many trade stands which offer th ...

. The show is a celebration of rural life in Devon, and features country and livestock competitions, a grand parade, equine events, local food and local drink, traditional entertainment and rural crafts.

History

The show goes back to 1872, when the Devon County Agricultural Association was formed to undertake promotion of the Devon County Show. It has been held annually ever since, except for breaks during the two

World War A world war is an international conflict which involves all or most of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World WarI (1914 ...

s from 1940 to 1946 and 1915 to 1919, eleven occasions between 1890 and 1958, when it was held in conjunction with

Bath and West Show The Royal Bath and West is an agricultural show for the West of England. Held every year at its permanent show ground near Shepton Mallet, Somerset, it is one of a number of County shows in the United Kingdom and is a four-day show. In 2009 and ...

or the Royal Show when these were held in Devon, and 2020. The show was first held at Victoria Park, Mount RadfordExeter Memories and then at various sites around the county until 1956, when it moved to its first permanent site on the Exhibition Fields at

Whipton Barton Whipton Barton was an estate farm to the East of Exeter. The ' Barton' suffix is the traditional Devon wording for the manor house, and indicates a demesne in the feudal system. Whilst the house and farm no longer exist, they have given their name ...

, Exeter (now Exeter Arena). The show moved to its present site at the Westpoint Arena in 1990.

The show

The Devon County Show comes from a time when agriculture was the most important part of the local economy. It attracts livestock exhibitors from across the country as well as features competitions for young farmers, traditional rural skills, show jumping, horticulture, dairy products, honey, poultry and crafts. There are numerous trade stands, demonstrations, displays in the ring and a funfair. In 2016, some 90,000 visitors attended the show during the three days it lasted. Students from

Bicton College Bicton College is a college with around 1,000 full-time and 3,500 part-time pupils, located near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England. It is part of the Cornwall College group. The college specialises in agriculture and currently offers course ...

, a specialist agricultural college at

Budleigh Salterton Budleigh Salterton is a seaside town on the coast in East Devon, England, south-east of Exeter. It lies within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and forms much of the electoral ward of Budleigh, whose ward population at t ...

, act as stewards, help set up the showground and keep the livestock areas in order. In 2016 they also demonstrated equine skills, gave chainsaw demonstrations, exhibited animals, rebuilt tractors, participated in a cycling challenge and exhibited their art and craft portfolios.

References

External links

Official site
1872 establishments in England Agricultural shows in England Events in Devon Festivals established in 1872

History

The show

References

Further reading

External links