This year’s Omagh Show taking place this Friday evening and Saturday, July 3 and 4 marks the 175th anniversary.

Local farming’s showpiece occasion has through the years stood the test of time and, given that Tyrone Farming Society has left no stone unturned in putting together another spectacular programme, the 2015 extravaganza promises to be the best ever.

In recent years in particular organisers have focused on marrying the traditional with the modern, fusing the old with the new and combining innovation with the antiquated in a celebration of the sounds, smells and tastes of the countryside.

This year is no exception with the Society again going the extra mile in ensuring that their big day out offers something for all the family. Year on year organisers have reviewed, assessed and strived to improve on previous events in a bid to cater for everyone’s needs and under the direction of new Chairman, Alan Kyle and secretary, Edwin Cartwright the hard-working committee believe they have put together another stellar package that will enthral, entice, enthuse, educate and, above all else, entertain.

All the old favourites are back by popular demand.

On top of that Omagh Show is the only event of its kind in Northern Ireland to host a qualifier for the RDS Breeders’ Championship while the splendid surrounds of the purpose-built Drumquin Road showgrounds will have the honour of staging the Northern Ireland Beef Shorthorn Championship.

The showing of livestock remains the staple of any agriculture show and this year Omagh boasts well over 300 classes with judges from across the UK and Ireland tasked with selecting the cream of the crop which will ultimately strut the stuff in the Parade of Prizewinners.

The many delights and flavours of the Food Hall, the ever-popular dog show, on-stage entertainment headlined by Mick Flavin, schools section, amusements, a children’s zone and many, many more attractions, and it’s not hard to see why Omagh Show has for 175 years cemented its position in the farming calendar as arguably of the best and biggest event of its kind outside Balmoral.

The 2015 programme has been boosted by the staging of the Northern Ireland Shorthorn Championships, a new sheep class for Blue Texels, additional classes and trophies in the poultry and goat sections and an entire new section for donkeys.

Ultimately though the highlight of any Omagh Show is the crowning of the Champion of Champions and the Parade of Prizewinners.

The prestigious Champion of Champions rosette at Omagh Show remains one of the most sought after prizes. Sponsored by the First Trust Bank Omagh, the quest for ultimate glory climaxes in a straight fight between the supreme champions in both the dairy and beef sections.

The man with the unenviable task of picking the overall champion is Scottish judge, Brian Ross, a top auctioneer and valuer from Lanark.

This year’s cattle section boasts no fewer than 109 classes catering for 15 breeds including those for the commercial, traditional and native varieties.

Exhibitors in each of the classes for Dairy Shorthorn, Ayrshire, Jersey and Holstein will have their eyes firmly fixed on the silverware and prize fund on offer in this year’s dairy section.

Fane Valley is again sponsoring the Dairy Cow Interbreed Championship, the winner of which walks away with the Champion Dairy Cow of Show title and the Excelsior Perpetual Cup.

Omagh Show is a qualifier for the McLarnon’s Feeds/NISA Dairy Cow Championship 2015 while the T Dunn MRCVS Perpetual Trophies will be presented to the winners in the junior showing classes.

Danske Bank, TC Autos, Buchanan Fuels, Town of Monaghan Co-op, John Thompson and Sons Ltd and Dynamis Homeopathic Medicine have all made a substantial contribution to the prize fund.

Two years ago Omagh staged the Northern Ireland Hereford Championship with great success and organisers are delighted the province’s top Beef Shorthorn breeders will be congregating at the Drumquin Road showgrounds on the first Saturday in July.

Omagh Show is a Qualifier for the Linden Foods/NISA Pedigree Beef Championship and Bank of Ireland/NISA Pedigree Junior Bull Championship 2015 while the inter-breed champion will receive the coveted Ulster Bank Perpetual Cup.

Ulster Bank, Danske Bank, Bank of Ireland and B & K Johnston have all contributed to the prize fund while the William Armstrong Trophies will be presented to winners in the junior showing classes.

The sheep section has in recent years been one of the great success stories of Omagh Show. It has grown beyond all recognition and in 2015 will boast a staggering 164 classes catering for 23 different breeds.

This year will be marked by a first ever appearance by the Blue Texel and no doubt that will further increase competition among all exhibitors bidding for the LW Surphlis Champion Interbreed Sheep of Show crown and the Marshall Hawkes Perpetual Challenge Cup.

In the sheep section, Omagh is again a Qualifier for the Danske Bank/NISA Sheep Championship 2015. LW Surphlis, Ulster Bank, TC Autos, T Miller, Richard Beattie, Harkin Bros, Surefirewood.com, Ina Wilson, Dimac Sportsground, WT Hire, Hawkes Farm Produce and Thompsons have all contributed to the sheep classes while Roger Latimer, Seskinore Farm Meats has sponsored the prize fund for the young handlers competition.