Agricultural show


An agricultural show, county show or farm 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 trade fair, competitions, and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers, animal fanciers, cowboys, and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are synonymous with the North American terms county fair and state fair, and the UK county show.
Agricultural shows tend to be important events for sharing different agricultural practices or techniques, learning about new technologies or celebrating achievements by producers through competitions.

History

The first known agricultural show was held by Salford Agricultural Society, Lancashire, in 1768.

Events

Since the 19th century, agricultural shows have provided local people with an opportunity to celebrate achievements and enjoy a break from day-to-day routine. With a combination of serious competition and light entertainment, annual shows acknowledged and rewarded the hard work and skill of primary producers and provided a venue for rural families to socialise. City shows also provide city people with an opportunity to engage directly with rural life and food production.
Agriculture shows are often enlivened with competitive events, including sheaf tossing, show jumping, food competitions, and tent pegging. Demolition derbies and rodeos are popular in the US and campdrafting and wood chopping are often held in Australia.
Studs are generally available for a fee.
In the United States, agricultural fairs are a significant exposure source for swine influenza. Certain strains of swine influenza can be transmitted from pig to pig, pig to human, and human to human; swine influenza infection does not always show signs of illness.

Livestock shows

A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, llamas, and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, and pigeons are also shown competitively. There are also competitive shows for dogs, sheepdogs, and cats.
Prize-winners at agricultural shows are generally awarded inscribed medals, cups, rosettes or ribbons. The National Museum of Australia has a rare collection of medals documenting the history of agricultural shows and rural industries across Australia. The 111 medals range in date from the mid-19th to the early 20th century and many are associated with significant individuals and organizations.

Field days

Related to a show is the "field day", with elements of a trade show for machinery, equipment and skills required for broadacre farming. Field days typically do not involve livestock, show bags or sideshows, but may include events such as ploughing competitions not usually associated with shows due to the larger space required. In some communities in northern England Field Days have lost their agricultural character and have become community celebrations.
The events are good sources of agricultural information, as organizers can arrange for guest speakers to talk on a range of topics, such as the talk on the yellow-flowering alfalfa at the South Dakota field day. Pecan growers were given a talk on insect control by an entomologist at a recent field day at LSU AgCenter's Pecan Research/Extension Station in Shreveport, La.
A Landcare survey conducted in 1992/93 revealed that field days in Australia have a high value among local farmers. New Zealand's National Agricultural Fieldays is held annually in June at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton, New Zealand, and attracts 1,000 exhibitors and over 115,000 visitors through its gates. Smaller shows, held annually in New Zealand's towns and communities, are generally called agricultural and pastoral shows.

List of agricultural shows

Asia

China

  • China International Agrochemical & Crop Protection Exhibition – Shanghai

    India

  • KISAN Fair – Pune, Maharashtra

    Japan

  • Agri Week Tokyo

    Malaysia

  • Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture & Agro-Tourism Exhibition – Serdang, Selangor

    Saudi Arabia

  • Mazayen al-Ibl

    Taiwan

  • Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum – Taipei

    South America

Argentina

New Zealand

Incomplete list of shows in Australia:

North America

Canada

Africa

South Africa

Belgium

  • Agribex – Brussels
  • Interpom Primeurs – Roeselare

    Denmark

  • Roskilde Dyrskue – Roskilde, Denmark

    Finland

  • OKRA – Oripää, Finland

    France

  • Paris International Agricultural Show – Paris
  • Salon international du machinisme agricole – Paris
  • Salon du fromage et des produits laitiers – Paris

    Germany

  • Agritechnica – Hanover
  • Berlin International Green Week – Berlin
  • EuroTier – Hanover

    Ireland

  • National Ploughing Championships – various sites
  • Ballinasloe Horse Fair
  • Banagher Horse Fair
  • Clifden Show
  • Tullamore Show

    Italy

  • EIMA International – Bologna

    Netherlands

  • GreenTech Amsterdam

    Norway

  • Dyrskun – Seljord, Norway

    Poland

  • Agro Show – Poznań

    Russia

  • Agrosalon – Moscow
  • YugAgro – Krasnodar

    Spain

  • F.I.M.A. International Fair of Agricultural Machinery – Zaragoza

    Turkey

  • Agroexpo – Izmir

    United Kingdom