New event puts value in farming
Plans for the Royal Smithfield Club’s new winter event incorporating the Club’s traditional livestock competitions, the Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair, are now well in hand, with livestock entries already rolling in.
But the event, managed on behalf of the RSC by the Royal Bath and West of England Society (RBWES) at its showground, will be more than just a livestock show, according to Jane Guise, RBWES chief executive.
“The livestock classes will of course be central to the Fair, but they will be joined by a food festival which will put meat firmly at the heart of the food chain.
“Consumers will be able to see food processing and cookery demonstrations alongside a range of value-added farm products.
This will hopefully make them more aware of product provenance and wholesomeness as an integral part of their understanding of value,” she explained.
On top of this RBWES also hopes to establish the Fair as a key machinery trade show for the region, enabling manufacturers, both large and small, to show their products to a wide range of visitors in the heart of an area which is key for machinery sales.
“We’ve already had considerable interest from machinery exhibitors, with many signalling intent to book stand space.”
Commenting on livestock entries for the event, RSC chairman John Coultrip said the change of venue had been a concern for some exhibitors, but entries had already been received from some new exhibitors who had decided to attend now the competitions would not be in London.
And to ensure the Fair receives maximum coverage, the RBWES has asked Farmers Weekly to be the event’s agricultural media partner alongside other local and national non-agricultural titles.