ROYAL THREE COUNTIES SHOW
13 – 15 June 2025 –
FARMING VILLAGE
Over the past century, the Royal Three Counties Show has become a much-loved event in the calendar. It is also one of the largest livestock and equine shows in the UK and features the country’s largest collection of rare, minority and native breed animals.
Farming special guests will include Charlie Ireland from CERES Rural chairing a session in the Future of Farming Theatre on Friday, Matt Baker MBE appearing in various locations across the show on Saturday and Kaleb Cooper joining us on Sunday. Ally Hunter Blair will also be at the show across the whole weekend.
Want to know more about farming or smallholding? Make sure you take a look at these pages: Future of Farming Theatre and Smallholders Village.
Click here for the NFU and Future of Farming timetables
LIVESTOCK CLASSES
The Farming Village, supported by Ballards LLP, is the place to see some of the finest livestock, including the largest gathering of rare and minority livestock breeds in the country, meet the farmers, and watch the animals compete to be crowned champion of champions.
Over the three show days, there are nearly 900 classes, 120 native and non-native breeds of animals across 35 judging rings– that’s a lot of livestock!
The Royal Three Counties Show has been chosen to present the Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies, sponsored by McCartneys, in both beef and dairy cattle sections. The Burke Livestock Trophies are considered the pinnacle trophies in the cattle showing world and we are honoured to be chosen to host such a prestigious award at this year’s Show.
Click here for all Livestock Showing timetables
Rare and Minority Breeds
Sunday is still a Rare Breed Focus Day and will still largely highlight the Rare and Minority Breeds within the Grand Parade on that day, although these breeds will be shown and paraded throughout the long weekend.
This year, there will be a NEW Interbreed Championship on Sunday for all the breeds on the RBST watchlist.
Young Handlers
You’ll be in awe as young farmers and handlers take to the ring with their pigs, cattle and sheep, proudly showing them off on all three days of the Show. This year, there will be a NEW Sheep Pairs Young Handler class held on Saturday.
Through various dedicated classes, the Show aims to inspire the next generation to get involved in the future of rare breed survival. The Royal Three Counties Show will hold the qualifying round for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s Young Shepherd of the Year competition each year (with the final to be held at English Winter Fair at Staffordshire County Showground).
National Breed Society Shows
Each year, a number of livestock breed societies choose to hold their national breed society show at the Royal Three Counties Show with the aim of promoting their breeds to a wider audience.
The Royal Three Counties Show will host 16 national shows this year, more than any other show in the UK. There is a dedicated Breed Society Row where you can pick up information leaflets or speak to people who breed and show specific breeds.
The handlers and producers taking part in showing the best of breed within the UK at the 2024 Royal Three Counties Show will be:
Sheep
- Hebridean Sheep Society
- Llanwenog Sheep Society
- Oxford Down Sheep Society
- Jacob Sheep Society
- Hampshire Downs Sheep Society
- Beltex Sheep Society
- Zwartbles Sheep Society
- Blue Texel Sheep Society
- Texel Sheep Society
- Berrichon Sheep Society
Goats
- British Angora Goats Society
Cattle
- Longhorn Cattle Society
- Gloucester Cattle Society
- Murray Grey Cattle Society
- Belted Galloway Cattle Society
- Red Poll Cattle
Goat Show
These cheeky inquisitive creatures will surely put a smile on your face! There will be a range of breeds including Angora, Pygmy and Boer Goats on display.
Goats are fantastic animals for grazing small holdings and their fleece can be spun into some magnificent garments.
There will be a variety of competitions, demos and talks across the three days in the Goat Show area, to educate anyone wanting to know more about these animals, their history and purpose.
Click here for the goat show and demos timetable.
Daily Grand Parade of Livestock
Each day, the spectacle that is the Grand Parade of Livestock takes place in the Main Arena, where the accompanying commentary provide detail about each of the breeds. Learn more here and click here for the Main Arena timetable including the Grand Parade.
BRITISH WOOL FLEECE SHOW
View prizewinning fleeces during the show and discover how British Wool grade, promote and sell the fleeces produced by the British wool industry.
The British Wool Marketing Board is responsible for the promotion of wool as a sustainable fibre that is usable in a range of products including fashion, construction and interiors and is represented at the show.
SHEEP SHEARING COMPETITIONS
The Sheep Shearing area, supported by Lister, is a hub of excitement and activity all through the show. From sheep shearing competitions on all three days to demonstrations offering advice and guidance on the Friday, the area is perfect for everyone interested in sheep farming or keeping.
A NEW Women’s Class has been added to the Shearing program for 2024. The program is as follows:
YOUNG FARMERS CLUB (YFC)
The Young Farmers always know how to inject a healthy amount of fun into proceedings. Come along and watch their trademark humorous competitions and performances on the stage that are guaranteed to put a smile on everybody’s face and view craft and cookery exhibits. You’ll also be able to watch members take part in stock judging, a skill which combines being able to compare and place livestock and explain the reasons for decisions to a judge.
There will also be lots of information and advice available on how to join a YFC, where your local Club are, and the types of activities and events members get involved in throughout the year. You can also learn how being a YFC member enhances personal development, develops skills and provides valuable experience that will stand you in good stead both personally and professionally.
The West Midlands Area and Three Counties Tug of War competitions will return to the show on Sunday 16 June. We’ll be welcoming over 200 young farmers from across 6 counties to compete and be crowned champions.
Click here to view the timetables for all the YFC related activities.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EGG SHOW
See all shapes, sizes and colours of prize winning eggs being displayed in over 50 classes. This area is supported by Henry Cole & Co.
