English Winter Fair will celebrate its 175th anniversary after last year's cancellation
Special commemorative coins will be given to competitors at this year’s English Winter Fair to mark its 175th anniversary when it returns to Staffordshire County Showground on November 15 and 16.
The show will be “bigger and better” following a hiatus last year due to the outbreak of Bluetongue virus.
Organisers made the “difficult decision” to cancel the Fair to protect exhibitor stock and farmers’ livelihoods. At the time, the restriction zone was very close to the showground.
There will also be £20,000 in prize money up for grabs across hundreds of classes at this year’s event.
It represents a significant milestone for the event, which began at Bingley Hall in Birmingham in 1889 and moved to Staffordshire in 1970, when the hall was demolished to make way for the International Conference Centre. It remains the country's only showground with a purpose-built carcase hall to display chilled carcasses.
The Fair encompasses the National Pedigree Calf Show and the presentation of the prestigious Duke of Norfolk (DofN) perpetual trophy for the best group of three pedigree cattle.
The competition will also feature beef, lamb, pig, and poultry carcase competitions, and it will provide young handlers with an opportunity to shine in the beef and sheep rings.
The two-day event will culminate on Sunday with the hotly contested livestock championships, followed by the auction sale from 1 p.m.
In 2023, visitor numbers exceeded 5,000, with more than 600 animals exhibited across the different classes.
Richard Williams, chief executive of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society, said: “We intend the show to be bigger and better than ever, building on the success of previous years.
“We were bitterly disappointed to have to take the difficult decision to cancel last year’s event, but we are focussed on delivering a fantastic event in November, and we hope for record numbers of exhibitors and attendees.”
Schedules will open in September. Advance tickets, which are discounted from £15 on the gate to £12, go on sale online from October 1 until November 11.
To purchase tickets or enter the competition, visit www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk
