Sign of the times for Oswestry Show
Agricultural shows are a vital shop window for the beleaguered farming industry, the chairman of Oswestry Show has said.
Malcolm Roberts, who is in his third year at the head of the one day show, said this year was tough for Britain's farmers.
"There is a lot of pressure on the farming industry on a very wide range of agricultural sectors, which is unusual," he said. "Our currency exchange rate is very different to a couple of years ago making our products dearer to export and products from abroad cheaper to import.
"Oswestry Show is our chance to put British farming out there, it is our shop window to our customers." Saturday's show at Park Hall showground is expected to attract thousands of visitors, keen to watch a full day of main ring entertainment, tour craft, food and trade halls and see the best of British livestock.
It will be the 130th Oswestry Show and Mr Roberts, himself a farmer, said its success was due to its tradition of bringing town and country together.
He said this year the environment was a strong theme at the event with stands including energy companies and environmental businesses. "Farmers have had some bad press over the years for allegedly taking the goodness for the soil," he said.
"Nature has to be preserved otherwise our crops will not germinate and grow for the population. If you do not look after the soil it will not look after your crops. If you do not look after your animals, they will not prosper. Farmers must look after the environment for the future.
"Oswestry Show gives people the chance to see how their food is produced and how well the animals are looked after."
Ticket are available from the show office at the Oswestry showground or from the Oswestry Show website.
