NEWTON Abbot Christmas Show celebrated its 100th show this week, as farmers from across the region came together to show off the best of Devon’s produce, as they have done for generations.

After spending many years at the Newton Abbot Cattle Market, the event moved up the hill to Higher Humber Farm, Bishopsteignton, several years ago. Geoff Lang, the owner of the farm and chairman of the show, said: ‘It’s amazing how good quality the animals have been this year, especially considering how awful the conditions have been.

‘In regards to the show, it’s the people that make it. What the show does is bring people together to continue this tradition, they can then pass it on to their sons and daughters. We’ve been trying to get to the 100th show for a while, but Covid’s been getting in the way. Everyone’s really been looking forward to this, the numbers have been great and the standards have been unbelievable.’

Anthony Barrow, vice chairman, added: ‘The average family celebrates Christmas Day. For a lot of people, this is their Christmas Day! Farmers don’t always go very far but they’ll always support their local community.’

With around 320 entries at the show, all local produce was covered, from cattle to cakes, flowers to fruit. However, the most sought-after rosettes were for the cattle and sheep Show Champions. 25-year-old Young Farmer chairman Josh Quant walked away with the top spot for cattle, showing that the next generation of farming was in safe hands. Josh said: ‘I wasn’t expecting to win because we’ve had a load of bad results recently, but it’s nice to win the local show on the 100th show. It’s been a great day.’

While this year’s show was the 100th known edition, it may well have been going for even longer than that, with the first record found to be in 1911, with the only significant gaps being the World Wars and the recent pandemic.

Another key organiser of the day was vice-secretary Johnathan Bell, who said: ‘A big thanks to the Committee, Chairman, President, exhibitors and sponsors. A special thanks to Geoff Lang for the venue and Rendells, who’ve shown amazing support.’