THOUSANDS braved the rain to flock to the annual Moreton Show on Saturday.

A show spokesman said: "We know it rained but you were all fabulous. Thanks to all visitors, traders and wonderful exhibitors."

Among the attractions were more than 350 trade stands showing or selling everything from combine harvesters to wellington boots and the very best locally produced food.

There was also entertainment on offer in the Grand Arena and Attractions Ring.

The special place the show holds in the heart of the community was stressed by the society president Lord Ashton of Hyde after touring the Batsford Road showground.

“It has got a really good feel about it and it is certainly a good place to meet people,” Lord Ashton said.

“It is a great focus for people and a good rendezvous in this agricultural part of the world. It is really good to see so many people enjoying all the old favourites.”

The president said he was particularly impressed with the livestock on show and the 50th year of the Poll Herefords show and the 125th anniversary of the Cotswold Sheep Society were particularly impressive.

“When the society in its present form started in 1949 the idea was to encourage agriculture and it is very good to still have the large agricultural theme to our show,” Lord Ashton said.

“The rural economy has changed a great deal since we started and there is more to it than just farming. Seeing the line-up of vintage machinery alongside the displays of modern machinery shows just how things have changed.”

Lord Ashton, who farms at Broadwell, near Stow, said: “I first came to the show with my father as a boy and have since stewarded in the horse rings for 20 years. My father was on the committee for many years and I have taken over from him and am really enjoying my term as president.”

With the harvest almost all safely gathered in farmers were able to talk about its success and disappointments at Moreton Show.

Jeff Russell, of Western Arable, which has a large new grain store near Tewkesbury, said: “It has been a mixed time this year.”

He said the winter barley crop was very poor both in terms of yield and quality, with the bushel weight down quite significantly and below the standard required for shipping.

That was followed by oilseed rape which, in his experience, was also very poor, averaging just over a ton an acre. Some of the seed was very small which in turn affected the oil content.

“Wheat crops were much better though quite varied in terms of both quality and yield, ranging from two-and-a-half tones to close on four tons an acre, depending on location,” Mr Russell said. “Quality was generally good with quite high bushel weights and nearly every sample of milling wheat met the desired standard. There is a lack of quality wheat in the world and so we are going to be exporters.”

Oats were a similar pattern to winter barley in terms of yield but quality was close to the average season.

He said they had not seen enough spring wheat crops yet to make any judgements, though early indications were that it was a good crop, while spring barley looked like being the crop of the season with reasonably good yields and most malting varieties making milling quality.

A special presentation was made to Journal farming correspondent Gerry Barnett at Moreton Show.

At a lunch hosted by show president Lord Ashton of Hyde he was given honorary membership of the society and presented with a Long Service Award certificate and badge by the president in recognition of over 50 years’ service reporting the show.

“It is a wonderful achievement and we are very grateful for all that you have done over the years,” Lord Ashton said.

Mr Barnett said he had always enjoyed the show and really appreciated the help and friendship of all connected with the society as it had grown over the years.