Devon County Show 2011 - day 3.
Published on May 22, 2011
Actually, I’ve got to tell you, I’m sat back at home, typing at the kitchen table. The show is over and i’m back at home.
Shows like this are exhausting – it takes weeks to set up and days to execute but was it worth it? Yeah! The Devon County Show is getting better every year. More agricultural features, more livestock and the more you do, the more often you go, the more friends you make. It has become a bit of a social feature in our calander. Propping up the cow shed with ’Chopper’ (the main steward who does such a great job of making that part of the show work), spending time on the Devon Cattle Breeders Society stand and as for lunch in the Presidents Marquee – Wow! The food was great but more of that later...
Being a sponsor brings about certain responsibilities and in some ways, it’s a bit of an honour. I know you pay for this ‘honour’ but there comes a point in your life when you have to change your values. Either you do it or someone will do it for you but sure as eggs are eggs, it’s going to happen. It’s normally a clean shirt and wellies at the show because they can get a bit mucky but this is year I had to make an extra special effort. 2011 saw yours truly in a shirt and tie, polished shoes and a tweed jacket. “But why?”, I hear you ask, and it’s a good question. Because it is expected of you, that’s why. The townies look upon us as ‘the tweed set’ yet the Young Farmers look up to you as a leader and a business man – you are an influence on their lives. As a sponsor, it gives a responsibility to set the standard and anything less is a failing.
So 'Well Done' to the young farmers club. The marquee looked great and as my boy says "9 out of 10 - always room for improvement!"
Final point on the Presidents lunch – well I made friends with some chap from the south of Devon who just so happens to be the Commanding Officer of the training centre for the Royal Marines. And as soon as he found out that I was ex-army he flung down the gauntlet. He’s challenged me to run a Battle Fitness Test (BFT) and I haven’t run any distance like that in nearly 20 years! When I was a lad we did it in boots, not these namby pampy trainers! This is going to hurt.
The challenge has been set and as i’ve said, life comes with certain responsibilities. Will I do it? Will I win against the Royal Marines? Wait and see!
