Connect with the countryside

THE Henley Farm & Country Show returns on September 13 notching up another year in its long history and acting as a reminder of the man who ploughed his own furrow when he founded the event in 1891.

The show, one of the largest events in the area, is one of the few one-day agricultural shows in Oxfordshire. It is organised by the Henley and District Agricultural Association and is held at the Henley Showground, near Hambleden.

Its roots lie with Richard Ovey, of Badgemore, who was described as a visionary and brave landowner who, despite intense competition from other established agricultural societies, decided to go it alone and found an association in Henley.

Henley farmers had supported field and show-day classes at the Royal East Berks, Wokingham Agricultural Association, Chiltern Hills, South Bucks and the Royal South Bucks shows and yet the town did not have its own agricultural association. Ovey, driven by an idea he had nurtured for a long time, held a ploughing match at Hernes, his estate, in the autumn of the following year — spurred on by Sir William Anker Simmons, a close friend who was knighted for services to agriculture.

Besides ploughing, there were classes for butter, poultry, eggs and collections of vegetables plus ploughing, rick building, thatching and shepherding.

In 1898 Ovey called a public meeting to discuss broadening the association’s events and the following September, the last year of his presidency, the first expanded Henley Show was held at the Hernes estate.

Traditionally the show is held on the second Saturday in September and has taken place every year since with the exception of the world war years and in 1952 because of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Lady Brunner, who was president in that year, was invited to be president again in 1954.

A wide range of presidents has meant that over the years the show has been held at a variety of venues because in the earlier days quite often it was staged on land that belonged to the president.

But since 1998 the event, which has been described as the best one-day agricultural show in the country, has been held in the stunning surroundings of Greenlands Farm, Hambleden.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the show this year and, of the four show rings, the main one is showing a display of agricultural machinery, from plough to combine harvester, scurry racing, Shetland pony racing, driving classes, livestock, classic car and tractor parades.

There is also a display of heavy horses. The Sheep Show has been a popular attraction at the top of The Village (ring four), along with a gun dog display and falconry.

In ring two and the top of ring three, the Woodland Pony Club run its annual show. A combination of show-jumping and showing classes.

Sheep classes will display many interesting and rare breeds and there is a companion dog show, taking entries on the day.

Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.

Many visitors return to do their Christmas shopping from the varied trade stands and the market area includes delicious food and drink.

The highly competitive produce tent will be full of lovely cakes, flowers, fruit, vegetables and art.

More than 80 classic cars and vintage tractors are on display and the winning exhibitors take part in a Grand Parade in the main ring in the afternoon.

The show opens from 8.30am to 5.30pm, with tickets available online or at the gate on the day. There is no charge for car parking.

l Tickets for adults are £15 on the day (£13 online), children aged five to 16 is £5 (£3.50 online) and those aged 65 and over is £8 on the day (£10 online). For more information and to book, visit www.thehenleyshow.co.uk