Half term fun down on the farm

There’s a great chance to round off half term with a family trip to the annual rally and Country Show of Buckinghamshire Young Farmers.
Visitors enjoying the annual Young Farmers Club rally and country showVisitors enjoying the annual Young Farmers Club rally and country show
Visitors enjoying the annual Young Farmers Club rally and country show

The show is an opportunity for young farmers to show off their skills and interests in a wide range of competitions.

But it also opens a window for the general public to see into the countryside.

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And there are loads of stands, stalls and main ring attractions at the show.

So visitors can see the young farmers entries for competitions in things as diverse as bale stacking, cookery, flower arranging, metalwork, woodwork, making a 3D cushion in the shape of a fruit or vegetable, decorating a wellie boot, identifying 10 different flavoured crisps, and decorating a hat with the theme of movies.

But visitors can also sample loads of artisan food, watch demonstrations of rural crafts including spinning and beekeeping and cheer on the young farmer traditional tug of war heats.

Main ring attractions at the show, at the end of half term, on Saturday May 30 include a super parade of vintage farm machinery, David Seamark and his sheepdogs herding geese, the Farmers Bloodhounds and the young farmers’ bath race.

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Each year one of the seven Young Farmers clubs in Buckinghamshire including Aylesbury, Princes Risborough, Edgecott and Winslow, Buckingham and Wycombe take a turn to host the event, and this year it is the turn of Newport Pagnell.

The current members have been helped by ex young farmers and the show is being held on the farm of Charles Payne at Spinney Lodge Farm, Forest Road, Hanslope, MK19 7DE.

The show committee give their time freely to organise the show, even though most of them are fully employed in farming and other ocupations.

All the judges and stewards are also former YFC members and local experts, again giving freely of their time.

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All the Bucks clubs take part in the rally each year, with all members taking part in the competitions.

Some require months of preparation and all kinds of skills are called upon.

The rally and show, which this year is called the Milton Keynes Country Show, is a great way to learn more about the countryside and agricultural in a fun way, and has a theme this year of The Best of British Food and Farming.

Show day lasts from 10am to 6pm.

Entry is £10 for adultsincluding the show guide, £5 for 16 - five years and is free for under fives.

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Young farmers clubs traditionally raise money for charity and this year Newport Pagnell YFC is supporting Medical Detection Dogs. Some of the dogs will be at the rally and country show to enable visitors to meet them and learn about their important work assisting people manage complex medical conditions.

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