Frome Show: 'Wonderful opportunity to see top quality show cattle'

Frome's Annual Show, the Cheese Show as it’s been known locally for many years, is fast becoming one of the South West’s most important one day agricultural events.

The Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show, to give it its full name, has long been a major showcase for farm machinery manufacturers and dealers making it a ‘must visit’ event for farmers, breeders and others involved in the agricultural industry.

And now the show’s Livestock Village has expanded to such an extent it has now created a show within the main show itself, as visitors to West Woodlands on Saturday, September 13th will be sure to notice.

As well as the livestock rings, the Village now features several new specialist agricultural trade stands, with the Fodder and Grain competitions and the Poultry and Egg marquee also moving there from the main showground.

Show secretary Brenda Scott said that the ever increasing number of entries for the livestock classes had been the spur for the initial development of the Livestock Village.


The 2013 Show welcomed over 450 head of cattle competing in a multitude of breed classes. New breed classes have been introduced regularly during the past few years, with British Blondes being added as a new category this year.

Tony Page, the Cattle Section Chairman, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to see top quality show cattle from all over the Southern England and the Midlands being judged by National and International judges at the one of the largest one day cattle show in the country.”

The Sheep Section has also added extra breed classes for Black Welsh Mountain and Ryelands to the already extensive schedule while the Dairy Goat section will include the Anglo Nubian & British Alpine Breed shows for the first time.

The culmination of the day for the cattle, sheep and goat exhibitors will come in the Main Ring at 3.00pm with the Grand Parade of Champions and prize winning stock, with visitors having the chance to see the top prizes being presented to the finest breeds on show.

Among those who will be admiring the livestock this year will be recently elected NFU Deputy President Minette Batters.

She has accepted an invitation from Show Chairman Martyn Brake to join the crowds at West Woodlands. She will be touring the show and visiting the Livestock Village to view some of the prize winning cattle and talk to exhibitors showing breeds that have been central to her life for many years.

Brenda Scott, the Show Secretary, explained: “The Livestock Village isn’t the only reason why we’re expecting a great many people from the farming world at this year’s show.”

“Cheese has been at the heart of the show since it was first held back in 1861 – it’s why it’s still referred to locally as the ‘Cheese Show’. The Cheese Pavilion, which is host to the annual Global Cheese Awards, will once again be putting the spotlight firmly on the dairy industry, with hundreds of different cheeses and other dairy products from around the world all competing for prizes.


“The Local and Fine Food Halls will be packed with tasty dishes, many of them made either on local farms or from produce farmed in the Frome area and giving visitors the chance to sample and buy variety of local produce.

“After treating themselves to some local delegacies visitors can sit and watch the variety of entertainments on offer at the Village Green.”