AN earnest call encouraging more young people to take up farming was made at the Royal Three Counties Show at the weekend.

The message given by at the Royal Three Counties Show by Minister of State at Defra, George Eustice, who urged farmers to provide more opportunities to youngsters to boost the future of the industry.

Speaking on the showground at Malvern, the Minister said that 1,000 young men and women have been introduced to farming in the past three years through apprenticeships in Herefordshire and the other two counties, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

This focus on the future for farming was balanced with a look back to those who have made significant contributions to the industry in past years. In recognition of this, six men and women from Herefordshire were among those from the region who were presented with long-service awards.

From Wyevale Nurseries, awards were presented to John Light, Adrian Hoare and Roslyn Cowley. From Garnstone Farms near Weobley, Allan Williams and Brian Griffiths were honoured, and from Lower Hope Farms, David Fisher. Mr Griffiths received the trophy this year as the longest-serving employee. As he was not able to attend the ceremony, his award was collected by James Verdin.

In the main ring, show-goers thrilled to a series of alarming stunts performed by the Devil’s Horsemen – accomplished riders who perform daredevil sequences in film and TV, including Game of Thrones – while all eyes were focused skyward for the Red Devils’ Parachute Regiment freefall display team. There was the double harness scurry competitions, Paws for Thought dog display team, and a major highlight of the event, the grand parade of livestock.

Rooted in history going back to the 18th century, the show on its 70-acre site provides a perfect setting where town can meet country with a variety of attractions to suit all tastes. Heavy horses, gundog training demonstrations, carriage driving, foxhounds, falconry, angling, farriery and blacksmithing, vintage tractors and forestry and the best of Three Counties food, drink and craft. Countryfile TV celebrity, Adam Henson, who was at the show on Friday, admits it is one of his favourites.

In the build-up to the show, Ronaldo, not the footballer but a prize Hereford bull, paid a celebrity visit. As a returning champion, he won a red rosette last year at Malvern, he signalled a record year for beef entries in 2015. From the Bounds Herd at Westons’ Cider Visitor Centre, Ronaldo won the coveted senior champion in the 2014 class. Describing Ronaldo as a “magnificent beast”, Ken Nottage, the show’s chief executive said the event was the UK’s largest livestock and equine show.

“We are so proud of our reputation for the outstanding quality of livestock we attract,” he said.

Mr Nottage pointed out that Sunday, the third day of the show, had been rebranded as Rare Breed Sunday in order to promote and support rare and native breeds, including Herefords.

“We are proud of our heritage, we date back to 1797 and our visitor surveys tell us that it is one of the friendliest agricultural events on the calendar.”

Herefordshire county councillor, Roger Phillips, who comes from a farming background, expressed his own delight.

“It just gets better and better every year in the great traditions of the agricultural society,” he said. “Cattle come from all over the country to this show, and the quality of livestock is outstanding. This is a paramount part of its work.”

Speaking for the Hereford Cattle Society, David Deakin said this year’s event had proved very successful for the breed.

“We had the biggest entry of the beef breeds,” he said. “The quality and the turnout bodes well for the breed for the future.”

He said: “The over-riding comment would be that we swept the board with interbreed entries.

“The interbreeds took three out of the four prizes which is a tremendous success for the breed.” Mr Deakin said there was a big entry from all over the country.

From a Herefordshire perspective, there was success for Amberley Court at Sutton St Nicholas with a reserve female champion rosette and the winner of the female champion entered by Mark and Maddy Roberts from Hoarwithy.

Top places for “newish” breeders marked a change on the results board, he said.

“The traditional Hereford breeders have normally done very well, but it is encouraging for the breed that newer breeders are also coming forward too,”, said Mr Deakin.

n Key Results

Interbreed Beef Champion won for the second time in a row by Dinmore Glorious, a Limousin by P.R. Dawes from Hereford.

Interbreed Dairy Champion, Reymerr Denise 2, a Holstein by D. R. Mead from Weston-super-Mare.

Interbreed Dual Purpose Champion, Fenton Cinders, a Gloucester by K.W. Burgess from Cambridge.

Interbreed Pig Champion, Fairoaks Nama Abel 11, a Berkshire by C. Impey from Mid Glamorgan.

Interbreed Sheep Champion, a Charollais owned by D.B. Roberts from Shrewsbury.

In the equine section the Cuddy Supreme Champion was ‘Castle Emperor’ a Connemara belonging to Mrs Vanessa Clark from Lincoln.

The Monkland Cheese Dairy from Herefordshire got Reserve for the Cheese Show with their ‘Little Hereford’ for the second year in a row.

Herefordshire Young Farmers won the overall competition and were presented with the Lord Lieutenant Trophy by Three Counties Agricultural Society President Viscount Cobham.