The Staffordshire County Show is the highlight of the agricultural calendar in Staffordshire - it boasts two full days of attractions, activities, trade stands and competitions.
The 2004 show saw more than 70,000 people through the gates of the 110-acre site on the edge of the county town.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust was offered an excellent opportunity to spread its campaigning to the agricultural industry and beyond. The presence of the Staffordshire Support Group in the wonderful forestry surroundings of the showground provided an ideal opportunity to show off "Ted" the RBST Rocking Horse and sell raffle tickets to the many hundreds of admirers he attracted.
Classes for sheep were up by over one hundred entries and rare breeds were well represented - including the presence of a recently recognised rare breed - the Devon and Cornwall Longwool. A superb group of three Southdown sheep exhibited by Chris and Dave Rhead from Lask Edge, Staffordshire stood reserve to the supreme group of Charollais sheep in an exceptionally strong competition judged by Mr. J. Evans from Chirk.
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| The Southdown trio that took Reserve Best in Show |
This award paid dividends - not only for the hard work put in by exhibitors, but also for the work of the RBST. Amidst many farmers, some of whom were somewhat sceptical as to the value of "rare breeds", the Southdown sheep raised the profile of the RBST and updated some strong prejudicial bias that existed previously. In an industry that has received many batterings, an opportunity has arisen for which supporters of the Trust should be proud. Plenty should be said of rare breeds' success against the typical continental commercial stock that so frequently dominates championship line-ups.
(Taken from "The Ark", the Journal of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Autumn 2004, by kind permission of the RBST)