Celebrating farming life at the Grantown Show

Agricultural shows have always been an important date in the farming and crofting community’s calendar. They bring together people, livestock and traditions in a way that connects everyone across generations. Last Thursday, the Grantown Show took place and for me and many others, it’s one of the highlights of the year. I’ve been involved in showing my family’s sheep at the Grantown Show for several years now and every time it’s an experience I look forward to.

I grew up at Greenfield Farm near Rothes, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. My family has been farming there for years with a flock of Texels and some pure Limousin cattle. My main interest has always been the sheep! As soon as I was old enough, I began helping with lambing, learning the ropes by watching what my family members did. During the week I’m in Aberdeen, studying agriculture at college but most weekends and holidays are spent back on the farm, doing the work I love.

The shows are more than just competitions - they’re a place to get together. Often, we only see certain friends and farming families at these events, so they become a big social gathering as well as a display of our best stock. It’s a time to catch up, swap stories and share advice about everything from grazing to breeding.

My favourite part is without a doubt is the sheep. The first thing I do when I arrive at a show is walk around and see what everyone has brought along. I love admiring the different breeds and the care that’s gone into presenting them. We take part in both the Grantown-on-Spey and Nairn agricultural shows each year, and for our family it’s a team effort. 

Preparing for a show takes weeks of work. Each breed has its own feeding schedule and grooming needs. There’s halter training, washing and in some cases dyeing the fleece. On show day, there are different classes for different breeds, as well as separate categories for tups, ewes and lambs. When you take your sheep into the ring, the judge might ask you to catch the sheep up, line them up and hold them steady in the centre. They’ll inspect everything from the condition of its fleece to the health of its teeth, legs and feet. It’s tough competition and the standard is always high.

Even though there’s a competitive side, for me the shows are also about fun and pride. Standing in the ring with one of our sheep, knowing the effort that went into getting there, is a great feeling. Rosette or not, the experience of being part of such a long-standing tradition, surrounded by people who share the same passion, makes it all worthwhile.

For young handlers like me, agricultural shows are more than just events. They’re a celebration of farming life, a chance to learn from others and a reminder of why we do what we do.