Devon County Show 2025: A Triumphant Celebration of Agriculture and Community

As the 2025 Devon County Show draws to a close, Show Manager Lisa Moore reflects on three extraordinary days.

“The weather was truly on our side. Blue skies and warm spring sunshine created the perfect atmosphere, ensuring a seamless setup and boosting public confidence—leading to record-breaking advance ticket sales.

As an event rooted in agriculture, the show proudly hosted hundreds of livestock and equine competitions, showcasing the best in breed and crowning well-deserved champions. Everyone greatly enjoyed the new fancy dress cattle class which was held on Saturday. 

Beyond the competitions, each day delivered its own standout moments. The opening day saw Martin Clunes officially launch the Heavy Horse Festival, alongside the debut of exciting new features—the first-ever Alpaca Café, the Family Fun Zone, and the Engage Stage, a collaborative initiative with BBC Devon providing a platform for local performers.

Friday was equally eventful, marked by a visit from Show President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. Her whistlestop tour of the showground allowed her to meet and greet the dedicated staff and volunteers who bring the event to life each year. A particularly special moment came as she watched one of her own horses—a Suffolk Punch—compete in the main ring, securing first prize in its class. Meanwhile, Kaleb Cooper engaged younger audiences with a lively Q&A session in the YFC, followed by a book signing and a tour of the farming and agricultural areas.

Saturday saw the showground bustling with visitors, especially on our popular family day, when children could enter for free. Kirstie Allsopp made a special appearance at the Crafts and Flowers Pavilion, hosting a well-attended Q&A session. Thanks to expertly managed traffic and parking, the show welcomed thousands via public transport, supporting our campaign to reduce congestion and benefit the environment.

Early figures suggest that the 2025 Devon County Show may have been a record-breaker, potentially surpassing the 2023 event, which drew 97,000 visitors. We are absolutely delighted with the outcome and, as always, extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to making this show the remarkable event that it is.

We also want to thank each and every visitor who purchased a ticket. As a charity, all profits from the show go directly toward supporting the rural community.”