The sixth edition of a rural affairs programmes produced by Waterfront Productions for Tyne Tees Television that looks at the future of agricultural and the countryside as it heads towards the new millennium. In this episode presenter Eric Robson heads to the Great Yorkshire Show to find out if events such as these are still relevant and to meets four competitors in four different livestock categories competing in this years show. Title: Farming 2000 On the Harrogate showground of the Great...

The sixth edition of a rural affairs programmes produced by Waterfront Productions for Tyne Tees Television that looks at the future of agricultural and the countryside as it heads towards the new millennium. In this episode presenter Eric Robson heads to the Great Yorkshire Show to find out if events such as these are still relevant and to meets four competitors in four different livestock categories competing in this years show. Title: Farming 2000 On the Harrogate showground of the Great Yorkshire Show presenter Eric Robson introduces the ‘premier show for northern farmers’. With more than 120,000 visitors to the show, a montage of views around the site including a brass band playing on a bandstand, heavy-horses pulling wagons around a showground, children competing in a gymkhana, tractors and other farm machinery on display and visitor relaxing on the grass some with ice creams. In a large barn at the Yorkshire ground Eric walks past pens of sheep. With sheep farming going through a rough time, he explains, it might be surprising to have nearly 1500 entries in the sheep classes. On Mount Pleasant Farm off the busy A66 at Bowes near Barnard Castle in County Durham farmer Keith Brown talks about his flock of 100 Swaledale ewes. As Keith continues to chat about taking part in this year’s Great Yorkshire Show, his wife and father Joe help herd the flock into the farmyard where Keith and his father make selections to show. They look over one particular ewe with Joe Brown explaining its importance and wishes the best for his son in this years show. Back at the showground Eric Robson asks Warren Fenwicke-Clennell, Honorary Show Director how showmen from the past would react to the show of today. He says they would be amazed. He continues to talk about how the show found its permanent home here in Harrogate in 1951. He counters Eric’s comment that show in now a ‘car boot sale with animals attached’ by saying that for farmers there are serious business opportunities as well as opportunities for the general public to see and learn about agriculture. He hopes the show will continues even as more and more people are leaving the land, there is always going to be farming in England and as such there will always be an agricultural show especially in Yorkshire. Vox pop with a selection of visitors who all say it’s a good day out with plenty of things to see and do. Eric introduces the next group of competitors featured in this episode coming from the private educational establishment of Durham School in Durham City which for the last twelve years has had a herd of fifteen Highland Cattle. As pupils from the school feed and wash the cattle Norman Macleod, a consultant from Dun Dubh Fold, talks about the importance of the animals to the school and its pupils. A student, Edward Halford, explains that looking after the cattle is fun but hard work. He is doing it for experience. A second student, Sally-Anne Finn, talks about dealing with the cattle and that she is looking forward to showing them at the Great Yorkshire Show. A third student, Anna Henniker-Major, talks about having to clean the animals as nearby other pupils sandpaper the horns of some of the cattle. As Anna leads one of the cattle across a field the Reverend Tim Fernyhough, Manager of Dun Dubh Fold, talks about the positive experience of attending the Great Yorkshire Show which they have done every year since having the cattle. In the field behind Tim Edward, Sally-Anne and Anna practice leading their cattle around in a circle as they will need to do at the show. Back at the Great Yorkshire Show Eric speaks with Farmer’s Weekly reporter Alan Barker by asking if the average visitor learns anything from shows such as these. Alan believes so, they go away with some greater knowledge of agriculture. Eric asks if shows like these ‘pulls the wool over the consumers eyes’ as the livestock on most farms are not of this quality. As they talk heritage cattle are paraded around the showground behind them. Alan responds by saying livestock as seen at the show are a reflection of the types of livestock on the average farm that will end up on the consumer’s plate. Eric moves on to speak with Donald Curry, Chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission who have a display at the show. Agricultural shows such as the Great Yorkshire Show have an important role for helping to bridge the divide between the agricultural business and the consumer. It is also away for farming to communicate to the pubic what happens in the in countryside. While walk along a boardwalk at the Great Yorkshire Show Eric talks about the need to educate consumers about how stuff gets from the field to the plate of fashion store. Inside a large barns crowds watch as models parade along a catwalk wearing a range of garments designed by students from Bradford and Ilkley Community College and London College of Fashion made from wool of native sheep breeds. Liz Ambler from the British Wool Board explains that the event is a way of telling farmers what is going on with their wool. It’s important the market knows about British wool as well as students who are looking at tomorrow’s fashion market. Beside a show field Eric introduces the third competitor to feature in this edition. Farmers wife Ann Waterhouse serves tea inside the ‘Ayrshire Cattle’ section pavilion changes to her son James herding the family’s pedigree Ayrshire cattle into the farm yard at their family farm near York, Fourth Milestone. Standing beside a cow which will be entered into competition James explains what makes this animal special. James working to herd cattle again changes to him working with a woman to trim the hair on the cow with a pair of clippers. He then sprays the animal down with a hose. Both he and mother Ann talk about the work that is needed to be done to prepare a cow for show, how shows such as the Great Yorkshire Show are having to cater for both agriculture and the general public over the three day event, and the great atmosphere being at the show and meeting up with old friends. Standing beside the show field for pigs Eric introduces the programmes fourth competitors; George Hutchinson and Brian Eeles who are pig farmers near Moorsholm on the North Yorkshire Moors. On their farm George herds one of their prized Berkshire pigs into a shed where he, Brian and a third man wash the animal. They talk about how each of their pigs are individuals and explains why each have their own name. In a field another Berkshire pig been herded, they talk about the prizes they’ve won at previous Great Yorkshire Shows and their hopes for this year. Back at the showground six judges stand deciding winners in this year’s show. Each of the four competitors featured in this programme explain to Eric how well they did intercut with them and their respective animals on a showground being judged. All are pleased with their results. Land agent and farmer Mike Keeble stands in his commentary box speaking into a microphone helping to judge the beef cattle class. He speaks with Eric and explains farming still has a long way to go in getting it ‘PR’ right with the image of farmers changing from being a hero in the 70’s and 80’s into the baddies of the 1990s because of the likes of live exports and intensive farming. He says beef farmer such as him are not into intensive farming and they are not inhumane to their animals. He explains he doesn’t want to stop access to the countryside as this would be stopping access to his consumers. He sees show such as the Great Yorkshire Show as a way to show people that farmers are doing a good job, are producing good food and that the public are welcome in the countryside. Eric Robson ends the programme by introducing next weeks edition on the issues of animal welfare and lobbying to stop people eating meat. A montage of images from this edition over the closing credits. Credit: Camera David Leeder Sound Ken Davison Runner Chris Sadler On-line Editor Mark George Editor David Hindmarsh Director Mark Murray Executive Producer Bob Farnsworth Producer Charles Bowden Credit: Waterfront Production for Tyne Tees Television © MCMXCV End credit: A Tyne Tees Television Production for ITV © MCMXCV