Since the 19th century, agricultural shows have provided local people with an opportunity to celebrate achievements and enjoy a break from day-to-day routine. With a combination of serious competition and light entertainment, annual shows acknowledged and rewarded the hard work and skill of primary producers and provided a venue for rural families to socialise. City shows also provide city people with an opportunity to engage directly with rural life and food production. Agriculture shows are often enlivened with competitive events, including
sheaf tossing,
show jumping, food competitions, and
tent pegging.
Demolition derbies and
rodeos are popular in the US and
campdrafting and
wood chopping are often held in Australia.
Studs are generally available for a fee. In the United States, agricultural fairs are a significant exposure source for swine influenza. Certain strains of swine influenza can be transmitted from pig to pig, pig to human, and human to human; swine influenza infection does not always show signs of illness.
Livestock shows A livestock show is an event where
livestock are exhibited and judged on certain
phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective
breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include
pigs,
cattle,
sheep,
goats,
horses,
rabbits,
llamas, and
alpacas.
Poultry such as
chickens,
geese,
ducks,
turkeys, and
pigeons are also shown competitively. There are also competitive shows for
dogs,
sheepdogs, and
cats. Prize-winners at agricultural shows are generally awarded inscribed medals, cups, rosettes or ribbons. The
National Museum of Australia has a rare collection of medals documenting the history of agricultural shows and rural industries across Australia.
Field days Related to a show is the "field day", with elements of a
trade show for machinery, equipment and skills required for
broadacre farming. Field days typically do not involve livestock, show bags or
sideshows, but may include events such as
ploughing competitions not usually associated with shows due to the larger space required. In some communities in northern England Field Days (or
Club Days) have lost their agricultural character and have become community celebrations. The events are good sources of agricultural information, as organizers can arrange for guest speakers to talk on a range of topics, such as the talk on the yellow-flowering
alfalfa at the South Dakota field day.
Pecan growers were given a talk on insect control by an entomologist at a recent field day at LSU AgCenter's Pecan Research/Extension Station in Shreveport, La. A
Landcare survey conducted in 1992/93 revealed that
field days in Australia have a high value among local farmers. New Zealand's
National Agricultural Fieldays is held annually in June at
Mystery Creek, near
Hamilton, New Zealand, and attracts 1,000 exhibitors and over 115,000 visitors through its gates. Smaller shows, held annually in New Zealand's towns and communities, are generally called
agricultural and pastoral shows (
A&P shows). ==List of agricultural shows==