This year’s Fermanagh County Show will not be held in the normal format, as various different factors have caused the event to change how it runs.
County Fermanagh Farming Society Ltd have confirmed that the Fermanagh County Show “its usual format is unsustainable,” adding that they do not have the voluntary workforce to run the show.
The society stated: “Following a full evaluation of last year’s show which took place at Castle Irvine Estate, Irvinestown, we considered the numerous issues facing the society in organising a large-scale community event.
These issues included:
- Escalating costs of service provision with increases of up to 35%;
- Ensuring adequate insurance cover is in place;
- An increased demand for risk assessments to be carried out for each area of the event;
- the cost of training for volunteer stewards.
“There is also the serious disease status of herds in Fermanagh to be taken into account and many breeders are cautious when exhibiting quality livestock at agricultural shows,” the society added.
“After much soul searching, we decided that Fermanagh County Show in its usual format is unsustainable and we do not have the voluntary workforce to roll it out.
“Covid had an adverse effect on the show and there is not the same pool of expertise available to act as stewards as many of the farmers that previously volunteered now work part time off farm,” the society added.
Changes to the Fermanagh County Show
The County Fermanagh Farming Society Ltd stated that the ‘Suckler Cow Classic’ and the ‘Breeding Heifer Derby’ will be judged on farms as a herds competition.
These competitions will be open to all Fermanagh farmers to encourage efficiency in breeding suckler calves for commercial markets.
A leading judge will visit farms and shortlist the finalists, while video footage will be taken and shown at the autumn prizegiving of the finalists.
“A new initiative this year is to find the top commercial sheep flock in Fermanagh with sheep also being judged on farms across a number of criteria. Further details for these competitions will be released later in Spring 2024.
“The Society’s Directors are working on a five-year plan with particular emphasis on education and agriculture, encouraging school competitions and supporting young farmers involved in farming in the County,” the statement concluded.
The society confirmed that while the schoolchildren’s section with almost 3,000 entries is going ahead as normal, they stated that the judging of phase one would take place after Easter and that the children will work on the crafts section until the end of June.
This, the society stated, “reinforces County Fermanagh Farming Society’s objective of engaging with the younger members of our rural community in agricultural-based disciplines”.
This showcase of children’s exhibits will be open to the public August 2 and 3, with a venue to be confirmed.
