Two days of intense judging and comprehensive displays of the latest agricultural machinery and household equipment and services await the thousands of people who will visit the Lackaboy showgrounds of Fermanagh Farming Society and the adjoining Ulster Farmers’ Mart next week for the Fermanagh County Show.

The Show takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday next, August 5 and 6.

The event is Fermanagh’s chance to showcase the agri-food industry and with great support from the industry, Show Manager, Ann Orr reports eight new sponsors this year.

The schoolchildren’s section which attracts more than 3,000 entries from pupils at primary and post-primary schools, is again supported by the Vaughan Trust and The Impartial Reporter.

Among the earliest winners selected for the Show were in the art work which will feature on the cover of this year’s Show catalogue as well as promoting the standard of art and design in local primary schools.

The two schoolchildren’s art classes were judged as follows; Class 57 - 1, Holly Devine, Irvinestown Primary School; 2, Thomas Coulson, Enniskillen Model School; 3, Chloe Preston, Brookeborough; Reserve, Grace Ralph. Class 58 results; 1, Charlie Donaldson, Enniskillen Model School; 2, Thomas Weir, Maguiresbridge; 3, Casey Howe, Enniskillen Model School; Reserve, Rhea Holmes, Enniskillen Model School. The winner for the overall design was Charlie Donaldson.

Home industries and Danske Bank Foodhall are well supported this year and the dogs show and poultry and pets section continue to attract hundreds of entries.

Wednesday will be the main Show Day with the judging of the livestock classes featuring halter led commercial cattle, rare breed cattle and sheep with their own indoor display, pedigree beef and dairy cattle and young handlers section.

Sheep classes will be expanded this year with a “Fleece of Wool” competition sponsored by the Ulster Wool Board and there are also four new cups to increase the competition in this section.

A new goat section is added to the Show programme this year, reviving a tradition which had lasted until 1986 in the old showgrounds at the Fairgreen.

A vintage display of vehicles is also a popular addition to the programme.

With free park and ride(see separate article) and discounted prices on advance tickets of £7 instead of the normal £9 from various outlets across the county, the Fermanagh County Show will prove a major attraction.

The Show will be prepared and organised by a team of 130 voluntary stewards headed by Nixon Armstrong, the Show’s Head of Health and Safety.

Ann Orr said Fermanagh Farming Society was indebted to the team of volunteers.

“It is easy setting it all up, it is in the roll out that we depend on you to play your part as a steward, judge, volunteer, trader, sponsor, service provider, visitor, or friend of Fermanagh Show,” she said.

She was also grateful to the many sponsors.

The Show opens on Tuesday afternoon.