Gearing up for the big match at Cruckton
Well, it’s the season of agricultural shows and events all over the British countryside.
Traditionally the southern and lowland country have theirs earlier in the season, whereas the shows closer to the hills and more northern are later, basically down to the growing season and the livestock having time to look their best.
But nowadays the rivalry between competitors means they have to have one over the next competitor, so the animals are fed cereals and other substitute feeds to get them looking even better. A lot of work goes in to getting the livestock into their best condition. This is their showcase and those that sell breeding stock need to do this.
It’s the same for anything you want to show - preparation is essential. Having been involved with the young farmers clubs over the years, when you are asked to judge a class, you can see straight away who has put the planning and work into their entry and they are nearly always in the prize winnings.
I saw a lot of their hard work recently at the Shropshire Show in Shrewsbury and what a fantastic display of entries they had, a credit to you all.
As I said earlier, preparation is essential and we at the Cruckton Ploughing Society have been preparing for this year's ploughing competition or ‘match’ as it’s called.
Most things are now in place, and the schedule is now out, with classes for horse and tractor ploughing, grain, roots and forage crops and this year a novelty class for apple pie, scarecrow and items made of scrap metal - so get baking and making.
There are also sheepdog trials and hedge laying and something special we hope to do is cutting wheat with a binder and put through a thrashing box. Yes just like in ‘‘the good old days’’...or were they?
It was very hard work, sometimes not good conditions for not a lot of pay. How idyllic was that?
How things have changed. Jump on a tractor, turn the key and away to go immaculate cabs with all the comfort you need, satellite navigation which keeps you in a straight line and all sorts of technology to help put different things on different parts of the field.
Watch this space - driverless tractors just around the corner. Wow! No tractor cab, so cheaper tractors and no wages to pay. Must be progress, or is it!
For a great day out book September 23 at Ruyton-XI-Towns.
Richard Savage
