Royal Welsh Show

File:Royal Welsh Agricultural Show Ground, Llanelwedd - geograph.org.uk - 148907.jpg

The Royal Welsh Show ({{langx|cy|Sioe Frenhinol Cymru}}) is an agricultural show, organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (originally, the Welsh National Agricultural Society,{{cite web |title=Society History |url=https://rwas.wales/the-society/about-us/society-history/ |website=Royal Welsh |access-date=27 July 2024 |archive-date=1 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801235122/https://rwas.wales/the-society/about-us/society-history/ |url-status=live }} formed 26 February 1904 by influential landowners, at Committee Room 12 at the House of Commons{{cite web |title=120 Years, Celebrating the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society – in the very room where it all started! |url=https://walesweek.london/whats-on/120-years-celebrating-the-royal-welsh-agricultural-society-in-the-very-room-where-it-all-started |website=Wales Week London |access-date=27 July 2024 |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727103000/https://walesweek.london/whats-on/120-years-celebrating-the-royal-welsh-agricultural-society-in-the-very-room-where-it-all-started |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Royal Welsh Show 'more relevant than ever' as it celebrates 120 years amid farmers protests |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-02-26/royal-welsh-show-more-relevant-than-ever-as-it-celebrates-120-years |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=ITV News Wales |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728130302/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-02-26/royal-welsh-show-more-relevant-than-ever-as-it-celebrates-120-years |url-status=live }}), and first held in 1904. It takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/23676409.chaos-carnival-atmosphere-powys-royal-welsh-show/ |title=Chaos and carnival atmosphere of Powys' Royal Welsh Show |date=24 July 2023 |work=The Scottish Farmer |first=Matt |last=Jones}}

The first show was held in Aberystwyth in 1904, on the Vicarage Field,{{cite web |title=Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Records |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb210-rwas |website=Archives Hub |publisher=Joint Information Systems Committee |access-date=27 July 2024}}

Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar was elected president of Welsh National Agricultural Society in 1913.{{cite news |title=Welsh National Agricultural Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQQ-AAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Welsh+National+Agricultural+Society%22&pg=PA14&article_id=2236%2C4758159 |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=December 10, 1913 |language=en}}{{cite journal |last1=Heley |first1=Jesse |last2=Sanders |first2=Amy |last3=Caerwynt |first3=Flossie |last4=Zaidi |first4=Najia |last5=Power |first5=Sally |title=The royal Welsh agricultural society: Patronage and the reproduction of elites in rural Wales |journal=Journal of Rural Studies |date=May 2024 |volume=108 |page=103291 |doi=10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103291 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0743016724000950 |access-date=27 July 2024}}{{cite news |title=Welsh National Agricultural Society |url=https://papuraunewydd.llyfrgell.cymru/view/3865669/3865671 |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser |publisher=papuraunewydd.llyfrgell.cymru |date=1904-05-05 |language=en |quote=... Welsh National Agricultural Society. This, as ... Lord Powis was asked to be president, Lord Tredegar to be vim- Mr. ... Tredegar and Lord Powis. They ... |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728174742/https://papuraunewydd.llyfrgell.cymru/view/3865669/3865671 |url-status=live }}

On 22 November 1922, George V became Patron and the Edward VIII, Prince of Wales became Honorary President, and the name was changed to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

It was held in a different town, every year in July, alternating between the north and the south, with a permanent showground at Llanelwedd near Builth Wells, first used on 23 July 1963.{{cite web |title=The Royal Welsh Show - Past & Present |url=https://www.peoplescollection.wales/collections/378057 |website=Peoples Collection Wales |access-date=27 July 2024 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=The history of the Royal Welsh Show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/c48d0b74-8123-33e5-b553-ac7dbb42ae87 |website=BBC |access-date=27 July 2024 |language=en |date=14 July 2011}}

No show was held in 1915–18 (WWI), 1940–45 (WWII) nor 2020–21 (COVID-19 pandemic). The latter years saw some events going virtual.

Format

The show lasts for four days and attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually, boosting tourism in Wales.

Events include:

Judging of cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs and various other domestic animals
Sheepdog trials
Sheep shearing competitions
Horse riding competitions
Four-in-hand and Carriage Driving displays
Falconry
Games and sports such as the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery of the Royal Horse Artillery
Arts and crafts show
Live music

Given its "Royal" status it is not unusual for a senior member of the British Royal family to attend at the Show. Charles III was a familiar sight as Prince of Wales. Following his support during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, one farming union, the FUW, nominated him for his outstanding contribution to agriculture in 2003, which was announced at the show.

File:The Royal Welsh Agricultural Show at Bangor 1958 (7636807478).jpg|The Royal Welsh Agricultural Show at Bangor, 1958.

File:The Royal Welsh Show 1963, Llanelwedd (7636799010).jpg|The Royal Welsh Show 1963, Llanelwedd.

File:The Royal Welsh Show 1963.jpg|The Royal Welsh Show 1963, Llanelwedd

File:23 & 25 July 2012 - Royal Welsh Show-23 & 25 Gorffennaf 2012 - y Sioe Frenhinol (7999820222).jpg|The Presiding Officer of Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament at the 2012 Royal Welsh Show

Business

Businesses with links to agriculture will have a trade stand at the show. It is an opportunity to attract new business from the farming community as well as to network with current customers.

Young Farmers

The Royal Welsh Show is also an event for young people who live in farming communities in Wales. The Wales Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs runs a series of competitions across Wales throughout the year, and the finals of the practical competitions usually take place at the Show. Amongst these events are stock judging and tractor driving.

Welsh Cob Senior Stallions class

The Welsh Cob Senior Stallion class is traditionally held on the Wednesday afternoon of the show ("Welsh Cob Wednesday"). The class is held using the entire main arena. The fifty-plus stallions are paraded at the trot in front of the grandstand before they settle down for the judging of the class.