Show season highlights best of food and farming

• Region celebrates agriculture

• Battle of Britain Spitfire flypast

• Goal to get young into farming

A summer season of regional agricultural shows gets under way with a vengeance this month – highlighting the best of East Anglia’s food and farming industries to an eager public.

In the south of the region, the South Suffolk Show takes place on Sunday, 11 May, at Ampton point-to-point racecourse, just off the A134 near Ingham, Bury St. Edmunds. Weather permitting, it will include an RAF Spitfire Battle of Britain Memorial Flypast at 1:30pm, as well as the Royal Air Force Falcons Parachute Display Team.

The following week will see the 186th Hadleigh Show take place on Saturday, 17 May. Held in the parkland setting of Holbecks Park, on the edge of Hadleigh, it will include all the regular main ring highlights, music and a family friendly layout.

Something for everyone

Hadleigh Show secretary Tory Lugsden says: “With four rings of activities going on throughout the day there should be something for everyone.

“For 2025, the Grand Ring will feature Bolddog FMX Stunt Team as our main attraction, with equine classes, machinery displays, the Dog and Duck Show – and our spectacular Grand Parade showcasing all of our brilliant winners.”

The Presidents Ring will host equine competitions, with Mountain and Moorland, Working Hunters and Sidesaddle classes competing.  They will be followed by Simbo’s Gundogs showing how they work and the Suffolk Young Farmers display.

The following day sees the Essex Young Farmers County Show on Sunday, 18 May, near Chelmsford (see panel). It will be followed later in the month by the Suffolk Show, which takes place on 28-29 May at Trinity Park, Ipswich.

Food and farming

This year’s Suffolk Show promises to be the county’s largest two-day visitor experience – highlighting the importance of food and farming to the regional economy, coupled with being a great day out for families.

The two-day spectacular will include a special focus on the humble potato, with Frontier Agriculture and Suffolk County Council helping to showcase the field to fork story of the crop in a special display aimed at farmers and non-farmers alike.

The Farm4Future area will offer an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. It aims to change perceptions of what working in food and farming and allied industries looks like – and could look like – in the future.

In the north of the region, the Royal Norfolk Show takes place on 25-26 June. This year, show president Paul Hoveson is on a mission to attract more youngsters into the industry as their career of choice.

Later this season sees the return of two popular one-day shows. The Wayland Show takes place at Watton on Sunday, 3 August. The Aylsham Show takes place on its traditional August Bank Holiday date (25 August).

Essex Young Farmers plan another bumper event

Young Farmers across Essex are pulling out all the stops for their annual country show this month.

This year’s event – the biggest and most important in the young farmers’ calendar – takes place on Sunday, 18 May at Boyton Hall, Roxwell, near Chelmsford.

County volunteers

The Essex Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs says the show is shaping up to be better than ever, says.  Volunteers aged 16-26 from across the county will set up the many attractions on offer duringthe week prior to the show. Gates will open to the public at 9:30am, beginning a day of entertainment for all ages.

The livestock area will be filled with a variety of animals including rare breeds, cattle, sheep and pigs. Attractions include tractors and steam engines – and the annual Essex Young Farmer’s Tug of War final.

Other attractions

Aimed at all ages, entry to the show is free for those under 15. Children have the opportunity to get up close to livestock. For slightly older kids, there will  also be fair ground rides. Pop-up shops will include a number of country clothing outlets.

Run by Essex Young Farmer members, the bar will be open throughout the day. Food stands will range from hog roasts to sweet treats including ice cream, strawberries and doughnuts.

For tickets, call 01245 360442 or visit www.essexyoungfarmers.com