Devon County Show

Show visitors name favourite farming and food businesses

Visitors to this year’s Devon County Show have named the local farming and food and drink businesses that they love. A survey carried out by rural solicitors Stephens Scown LLP at the show asked 480 visitors about their favourite food and drink brand, farm shop and farm attraction, as well as asking what people enjoyed most about the region. The survey forms part of the firm’s Love Where You Live campaign, which celebrates and showcases the best things about the South West. Luscombe Drinks was the most popular local food and drinks brand, with Otter Brewery and Westaway Sausages coming...

Devon County Show rises to the challenge

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sat, 05/21/2016 - 9:35pm

The weather may have been dodgy, the economic outlook uncertain and farming in dire straits, but none of that stopped over 90,000 visitors enjoying the gigantic three day celebration of farming, food and rural life which is the Devon County Show.

Not even showery rain on Saturday could keep the crowds away or spoil the fun. Trade stand holders reported brisk business, with the huge Food and Drink Marquee packed to the tent flaps with a legion of fine food fanciers, enjoying the very best that Devon food and drink producers have to offer.

Show Chairman, David Parish, said...

Crowds flock to second day of County Show

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 05/20/2016 - 5:44pm

Ideal show-going weather, great crowds and excellent competitions combined to make the second day of the Devon County Show at Westpoint, Exeter a great celebration of rural life.

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said it was wonderful to see the county turn out in force for the 121st Show: “The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and everyone seems so happy to be enjoying the start of summer here at the show ground.”

The crowds have enjoyed exceptional local food and drink and lots of entertainment in the avenues with Titan the comic robot, bands and dancers.

All features...

Thrilling start to Devon County Show

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 05/19/2016 - 9:39pm

Thundering-hooved Shetland ponies, motorcycle acrobatics and the giant Devon Eye swung the county’s largest annual event into thrilling action.

Crowds turned out in their thousands to savour the best of the South West’s food and farming on the first day of the Devon County Show.

EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and Environment Secretary Liz Truss, along with NFU president Meurig Raymond and CLA president Ross Murray, met farmers at the curtain-raiser for the South West agricultural show season.

The crowds on the first of the three spectacular days were treated to a mouth-...

Tiverton man crowned Farmer of the Year

Seven outstanding Devon farming businesses are celebrating tonight (Wednesday May 18) after picking up the top prizes in the 2016 Devon Farm Business Awards, organised by a partnership of the Devon County Agricultural Association, the Addington Fund and Stephens Scown.

The awards were presented at a dinner and awards ceremony held at Westpoint, home of the Devon County Show, attended by EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Phil Hogan.

Devon’s Farmer of the Year for 2016 and also Best Dairy Farmer is 52 year old Gordon Davis of Westcott Farm, Westleigh, near...

South West farm businesses must be profitable if vital economic contribution is to continue

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 05/17/2016 - 8:17pm

Farming’s multi-million pound contribution to the region’s economy could be under threat if profitability doesn’t soon return to the industry, the NFU is warning ahead of this year’s Devon County Show.

Agriculture alone is worth around £1.1bn annually to the South West and about £319m to Devon. Around 60,000 people are directly employed in agriculture across the region, about 18,500 of them in Devon.

The union will be emphasising the crucial role economic role farming plays in the economy of the South West by arranging for many of the suppliers who work with Devon NFU...

Devon County Show: A food and farming extravaganza you won't want to miss

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 05/17/2016 - 10:12am

On Thursday (May 19) the Devon County Show – a three-day celebration of all things food and farming - begins its 121st event with visits from the most important politicians in British agriculture. EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Phil Hogan, and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Liz Truss, along with NFU President Meurig Raymond and CLA President Ross Murray, are meeting farmers at the curtain-raiser for the South West agricultural show season. They will join the thousands of visitors who will savour the best of Devon and have the opportunity to...

Exeter media students to set up pop-up newsroom at Devon County Show

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 05/16/2016 - 10:49am

Students from Exeter College will set up a pop-up newsroom at the Devon County Show on May 19-21 at the Westpoint showground, Exeter. The team will film, photograph and write about what catches their eye at the county’s largest annual event. Richard Lappas, a lecturer on the journalism and practical media course, said: “This is an exciting project with huge potential. As it is being organised and controlled by students past and present from the foundation degree course in news journalism at Exeter College, it is going to give a whole new perspective on such a well-respected and supported...

Farm safety conference announced for County Show

South West regional insurance company Cornish Mutual will host a Health and Safety Conference at this year’s Devon County Show in support of the Farming Community Network. The Health and Safety Conference will consist of a series of free 20 minute seminars which will take place throughout Thursday and Friday during the show. The conference will provide a unique opportunity for those in the industry to gain a wealth of up-to-date information. There will be a range of presentations on key health and safety issues currently affecting the agricultural industry, with the opportunity to chat...

An explosion of floral colour at County Show

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 05/13/2016 - 10:11am

The largest temporary structure at the Devon County Show on May 19-21 at Westpoint, Exeter will house an explosion of floral colour and scent.

Measuring 11,815 sq metres, which is bigger than a Premier League football pitch, the pavilion will be bursting with the sights and smells of spring.

Deborah Custance Baker, the chief steward of the crafts and gardens feature, calls it a ‘show within a show’.

“It will be packed with floral and horticultural exhibits and local crafts makers’ she said.

“The flower section is huge with superb feature gardens, artistic...

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