Thousands of people flocked to the Park Farm showfield at the weekend for the welcome return of the region’s biggest agricultural event.
Dumfries Show was back after a two-year, Covid enforced absence.
Friday saw horse and showjumping competitions and the home and garden and arts section presentations followed by the main event on Saturday.
Susan Bicket, secretary of the Dumfries and Lockerbie Agricultural Society, said: “It was absolutely wonderful to be back.
“The atmosphere on Saturday was fantastic. We put on a bumper show to give something for everyone and it was very hard work but it paid off because we were very busy and we are grateful to everyone who came and gave us their support.
“Without the people who come to the show – to take part, to watch, to help out – it just wouldn’t be the Dumfries Show.
“They made it on Saturday. The farming community and the society members are so very grateful to everyone who came and we hope they enjoyed it.” She added: “The pandemic meant that many people hadn’t seen each other since the last show in 2019 and it was wonderful seeing people get together again.
“The show is always hard work to organise but we have had so much goodwill with people wanting to take part and the judges who were due to judge in 2020 were quick to offer to come this year which was much appreciated.
“We had more people through the gates on Saturday than before the pandemic which was also much appreciated and shows that people are glad to have Dumfries Show back.”
A major part of the show is the agricultural competitions and entries were around the same as pre-Covid with 250 cattle, 850 sheep and 50 goats in the various classes, culminating in choosing the Champion of Champions in each section, except horse, which took part in the grand parade of winning animals in the afternoon.
Susan said they also had a bumper 300 horses enter their classes and a big turnout in riders for the showjumping competitions.
They were also thrilled with the number of entries for the home and garden and arts classes – which are always a crowdpuller with some fierce competition.
The agricultural side was boosted by fleece and stick competitions, young farmer events, trade stands and a demonstration in the fleece tent by the region’s Spinners, Weavers and Dyers.
The J M Rome Award for services to the local agricultural community was presented to Bobby and Billy Davidson of R Davidson and Son hauliers at Southpark, Lochfoot.
Long service medals were presented to three farm workers: Eric Neilson for 50 years at Mersehead Farm; Robert Thomas for 31 years at the Southwark Estate; and Calum McKie for 30 years at Beuchan Farm, Thornhill.
Trophies and prizes were presented by Clare McGinley.
Visitors to the show also enjoyed the bumper craft fair with 49 makers and producers and the food festival which featured a demonstration by celebrity chef Tony Singh, as well as tastings and samples.
There was also Daffy Dill, a vintage machinery display, a rodeo bull, Dumfries Pipe Band, face painting and Nithsdale Alpacas to
enjoy.
