Countryside Live Cancels Cattle and Sheep Due to Foot and Mouth
23/09/07

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society - organisers of Countryside Live - have announced their decision to cancel all beef and sheep classes at the event due to the recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Surrey. However the Show will definitely still go ahead.

No livestock at this year's
Countryside Live Food & Farming Fair

Countryside Live takes place on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of October at the Great Yorkshire Showground and has rapidly grown into an important autumn agricultural event. Now in its fifth year, Countryside Live aims to bring together the best of the countryside to families and children in the comfort of an exhibition centre. Countryside Live features a range of hands-on activities for children, from a tree identification trail, bread making, cheese tasting, sausage making and Bee keeping.

Show Director Bill Cowling said: "The recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Surrey have caused great concern for all involved in agriculture and whilst we all hope that the situation will be resolved quickly, the indications are that restrictions on Shows may not be lifted for sometime. By making our decision now we are able to deal effectively and efficiently with enquiries from potential cattle and sheep exhibitors. Those who have entered livestock will, of course, have all their fees refunded".

"Feedback that we've had from the farming community suggests that even if the restrictions are lifted, farmers would be wary of a national gathering, and it is for this reason that we've decided to cancel these classes from the event".

"The Show will retain its agricultural theme - there are pigeons and poultry, horticultural displays, the Yorkshire Woodfair and a Honey competition".

"The Show also features a cookery theatre and a fashion show themed around Country Cool, plus there is a shopping zone featuring a number of local food producers".

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society will replace the missing sheep and cattle with an enlarged pet centre and a Dog Agility Show.

Great Yorkshire Cookery Competition 2007
Countryside Live 2007 - A Feast of Fun
Flying the British Livestock Flag this Autumn