Agricultural show

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An agricultural show parade

An agricultural show or farm show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock is exhibited), a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers, animal fanciers, cowboys, and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are synonymous with the North American terms county fair and state fair, and the UK county show.

Agricultural shows tend to be important events for sharing different agricultural practices or techniques, learning about new technologies or celebrating achievements by producers through competitions.

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History

The first known agricultural show was held by Salford Agricultural Society, Lancashire, in 1768.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Events

File:MidSomerset Show 170803.jpg

Cheddar cheese competition.

Since the 19th century, agricultural shows have provided local people with an opportunity to celebrate achievements and enjoy a break from day-to-day routine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With a combination of serious competition and light entertainment, annual shows acknowledged and rewarded the hard work and skill of primary producers and provided a venue for rural families to socialise. City shows also provide city people with an opportunity to engage directly with rural life and food production.<ref name="nma.gov.au">Template:Cite web</ref>

Agriculture shows are often enlivened with competitive events, including sheaf tossing, show jumping, food competitions, and tent pegging. Demolition derbies and rodeos are popular in the US and campdrafting and wood chopping are often held in Australia.

Studs are generally available for a fee.

In the United States, agricultural fairs are a significant exposure source for swine influenza.<ref>Bowman, A. S., Walia, R. R., Nolting, J. M., Vincent, A. L., Killian, M., Zentkovich, M....Forshey, T. (2017). Influenza A(H3N2) Virus in Swine at Agricultural Fairs and Transmission to Humans, Michigan and Ohio, USA, 2016. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(9),1551–1555. {{#invoke:CS1 identifiers|main|_template=doi}}</ref> Certain strains of swine influenza can be transmitted from pig to pig, pig to human, and human to human; swine influenza infection does not always show signs of illness.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Livestock shows

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File:RAS judging the Border Leicesters.jpg

Border Leicesters lined up for the judge

A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, llamas, and alpacas.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, and pigeons are also shown competitively.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> There are also competitive shows for dogs, sheepdogs, and cats.

Prize-winners at agricultural shows are generally awarded inscribed medals, cups, rosettes or ribbons. The National Museum of Australia has a rare collection of medals documenting the history of agricultural shows and rural industries across Australia.<ref name="nma.gov.au"/> The 111 medals range in date from the mid-19th to the early 20th century and many are associated with significant individuals and organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Field days

Related to a show is the "field day", with elements of a trade show for machinery, equipment and skills required for broadacre farming. Field days typically do not involve livestock, show bags or sideshows, but may include events such as ploughing competitions not usually associated with shows due to the larger space required. In some communities in northern England Field Days (or Club Days) have lost their agricultural character and have become community celebrations.

The events are good sources of agricultural information, as organizers can arrange for guest speakers to talk on a range of topics, such as the talk on the yellow-flowering alfalfa at the South Dakota field day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pecan growers were given a talk on insect control by an entomologist at a recent field day at LSU AgCenter's Pecan Research/Extension Station in Shreveport, La.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A Landcare survey conducted in 1992/93 revealed that field days in Australia have a high value among local farmers.<ref name="rural">Template:Cite book</ref> New Zealand's National Agricultural Fieldays is held annually in June at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton, New Zealand, and attracts 1,000 exhibitors and over 115,000 visitors through its gates.<ref>Fieldays Retrieved on 29 November 2008</ref> Smaller shows, held annually in New Zealand's towns and communities, are generally called agricultural and pastoral shows (A&P shows).

List of agricultural shows

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Asia

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China International Agrochemical & Crop Protection Exhibition [1] – Shanghai

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KISAN Fair [2] – Pune, Maharashtra

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Agri Week Tokyo [3]

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Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture & Agro-Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) [4] – Serdang, Selangor

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Mazayen al-Ibl

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Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum [5] – Taipei

South America

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Expoagro [6] – San Nicolás de los Arroyos
La Rural – Buenos Aires

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Agrishow [7] – Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo
AgroBrasília – Brasília
Bahia Farm Show [8] – Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Bahia
Expodireto Cotrijal [9] – Não-Me-Toque, Rio Grande do Sul
Expointer – Esteio, Rio Grande do Sul
Expozebu [10] – Uberaba, Minas Gerais
Megaleite [11] – Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Show Rural Coopavel [12] – Cascavel, Paraná
Tecnoshow Comigo [13] – Rio Verde, Goiás

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Agroexpo [14] – Bogotá

Oceania

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Denbigh Agricultural Show : The Denbigh Show is the oldest, largest and most dynamic agricultural show in the English-speaking Caribbean, and one of Jamaica's most iconic events, and was held for the first time in 1952. The Denbigh Show has achieved the name for the Caribbean's premier agricultural event, and epitomizes wholesome family entertainment and attracts over 80,000 patrons to the event annually.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>