ROYAL THREE COUNTIES SHOW
14 – 16 June 2024 –
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 UK’s largest collection of rare, minority and native breed animals.
Want to know more about farming or smallholding? Make sure you take a look at these pages: Future of Farming Theatre and Smallholders Village.
LIVESTOCK CLASSES
The Farming Village, 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.
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.
There will be a NEW Interbreed Championship on Sunday for all the breeds on the RBST watchlist.
Young Handlers
You’ll also 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 17 national shows, more than any other show in the UK. 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
- Toggenburg Goat Breeders 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, Dairy, 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 and talks across the 3 days to educate anyone wanting to know more about these animals, their history and purpose.
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 will explain more details about each of the breeds. Learn more here.
BRITISH WOOL FLEECE SHOW
View the 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, 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 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.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EGG SHOW
See all shapes, sizes and colours of prize winning eggs being displayed in over 50 classes.
