Huntingdonshire farmer Anne-Marie Hamilton writes about harvest in her September column.
Having got the arable harvest out of the way, I am now facing another early harvest – this time, of all the fruit and vegetables in our farm garden, and this is causing me extreme anxiety!
It is not just the fact that each time Rob appears at the door, he is laden with more produce that needs cooking and freezing, but it might all be over by the end of this month, leaving me nothing to exhibit at Gransden Show.
Gransden Show is held on the last Saturday in September each year (September 28 this time) and is as rare these days as the Giant Panda as it is ‘the real deal’ – a genuine, local, small, traditional agricultural show.
In recent years, most of them have died out, often because they tried to change with the times, and it didn’t work.
Thankfully, Gransden and District Agricultural Society had the courage to remain true to its roots, with the result that they not only have an annual show that is thriving and extremely successful, but it continues to attract new visitors each year who tend to return once they discover this hidden gem for themselves.
As children, a day out at Gransden was our family treat. Whilst the rest of the family enjoyed going round the show, meeting friends and watching the huge variety of entertainment on offer, I got hooked into exhibiting at a very early age.
Over the years, I have had huge fun showing (with mixed success) everything from ponies, dogs, and donkeys to fruit cakes, garden produce and photos– as well as having an agricultural trade stand there for over 30 years.
Although I know that the rest of the family will thoroughly enjoy the show as a social occasion, I will be devastated if all my garden produce has died off and I have nothing to enter.
Thankfully there will still be plenty to see and do. I will be able to enjoy watching others show their livestock for a change.
Rob, no doubt, will be drooling over the latest farm machinery on offer and I might even wander round the numerous trade stands in search of some unusual, early Christmas presents.
Whatever happens, I am looking forward to it. If you have never been, why not come and join me?
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