And the show CONTINUES…
WITH its long horns and tousled auburn coat adorning many a shortbread tin, the hairy Highland cow is one of the most distinctive and enduring symbols of rural Scotland, and amid all today’s talk of wilderness, it is an apt reminder that this is also proud farming country, a fact that villages and towns throughout the region celebrate with a summer fixture, the Agricultural Show.
These events are the much-anticipated forum for serious farmers to show offtheir carefully bred and reared livestock, from those Highland bulls and heifers, to sheep, poultry, and even llamas, in the hope of winning prizes that are far more about reputation than reward. They are also a much anticipated social occasion, bringing together visitors and residents of all ages.
Most shows include competitions in trade and craft categories, from making jam and knitting, to carving sticks and growing vegetables, with the work submitted on display for the public to browse throughout the day. They are lively, good-natured events, but the competition is tough.