KINROSS SHOW Secretary Mary Morgan was last week applying the finishing touches to her months of planning and organisation ahead of the well loved Kinross-shire event.

But the 187th show will be Mary's last as secretary, as she is stepping down from the role at the AGM later in the year, having coordinated no less than 13 shows since taking over the reins in 2004, after retiring from a career with Royal Bank of Scotland.

“It’s a gradual build up of work each month until the show,” said Mary. “Making the applications for all the licences for livestock and gaining the authority to stage the event on the National Nature Reserve are the key parts that come before compiling the Premium List and processing the entries, but I’ve developed my own guide that ensures it goes as smoothly as possible” she added.

Mary describes the task of managing the layout as a bit like a massive jigsaw puzzle, and works closely with a couple of committee members to try to give each stand the best site for their organisation or business.

It’s certainly worth the attention to detail as this year there was a record 53 trade stands. Similarly in the livestock sections, Mary liaises with the convenors to ensure that the 45 sections are completely prepared for the competitions: “The planning all pays off when the judges come into the secretary’s tent having judged a good show of stock and sit down to lunch proud to have judged at Kinross Show,” she said.

Mary also recalled the move in 2012 from Kinross House to the new show field at RSPB Loch Leven, as a challenging time. However, the transition has gone well and the free buses provided ensure that everyone can make the journey easily. Being a dog-lover, Mary is also delighted that the extra space enabled the Dog Show to expand to attract over 80 entries this year and she is also very pleased that the Children’s Education Marquee is offering more and more opportunities for the younger generation to find out about farming and the countryside.

Mary’s retiral from her role will give her more time to devote to her other interests – but Kinross Show day will remain in her diary as a relaxing day out from now on.