It’s only May and its already been a tough old year with one of the longest winters and late springs on record. But, with calving and lambing all but done and a good whack of spring barley at last sown, what could be better than a day out to catch up with fellow farmers?
For many, Ayr County Show, at Ayr Racecourse, is a must and this year’s, on Saturday May 12, promises to be better than ever with the event being the Ayrshire Agricultural Association’s 175th, in it’s 181st year.
It’s winning formula of celebrating the traditional, while also embracing the future has earned its place as a ‘must do’ event on the calendars of both the farming community and families looking for a good, value day out.
The event includes exhibition and competition of many types of animals, trade stands, crafts, vintage tractor display, sticks and crooks, SWI competitions, YFC competitions, family entertainment, music, children’s marquee and Truck Ayr Lorry Show. Food and drink is also very much part of the day creating the important link ‘field to fork’.  
As always, a wide variety of beef, sheep and dairy breeds will be judged throughout the morning, with this year’s entry featuring no fewer than 360 sheep; 115 beef animals; 78 goats; 310 head of poultry; 17 Clydesdale horses and three stud carts. At present there are also 280 light legged horses and ponies and 45 dairy stalls booked, but these two figures are expected to rise further as entries are still being taken.
Light horse and pony judging commences at 8.00am, with British show jumping at 8.45am and Clydesdale horses at 10.00am. The stud cart mare or gelding, driven by a lady or gentleman, takes places in the main ring at approximately 1pm.
Cattle and sheep classes kick off at 9.30am and sticks and crooks at 10am. 
Highlight of the day for many however is the judging of the champion of champions in the main ring and the winning presentation of £1000 prize money sponsored by Rotherwood Furniture, which takes places mid afternoon.
Goat judging is not held at the racecourse, but will be running a back to back show with the Ayrshire Goat Club on Saturday, May 12, and Sunday, May 13, at Craig Wilson Livestock Auction Mart. 
Ayr is always a strong Young Farmers’ event and again, the local YFC district has organised a tug-o-war competition, which will take place in the main ring at 9.30am. 
Young Farmers handicrafts competitions are set up in the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ marquee where the senior theme is ‘Lights, camera, action’, while the juniors have an ‘80 years of SAYFC’ theme. 
Exhibits for the craftsmanship competition where members will be submitting their handmade kists will also be on show in the same marque. YFC stock judging competition takes place at 1.30pm in the judging rings.
Trade stand exhibitors are major contributors to the show’s success and this year’s event has again attracted more than 100 ranging from agricultural dealerships, machinery, services and specialists, food, crafts, bespoke goods, clothing and gifts, equine and livestock products, to name but a few.
New to the show this year will be a designated Children’s Marquee which will feature The Wearable Art Company face painters, rainbow twisters – balloon twisters and glitter tattoo’s, Daffy Dill entertainment, Bunny Luv mobile petting zoo, Ayr beekeepers, Hannahston alpacas, Craigievern poultry display and the Royal Highland Educational Trust (RHET) with a focus on all things woolly on their stand this year! 
The poultry marquee is returning for a second year too with 300-400 birds being presented and showed and many plates of eggs on display.
All of the above plus Owl Magic, Donkey rides from Jenny’s Donkey’s, chainsaw carving displays and demonstrations, music from Irvine pipe band, ‘Truck Ayr’, catering facilities, bar, children’s bouncy slide and funfair rides makes Ayr County Show a great day out for the whole family. 
Ayr Show is also hosting‘The Pink Tractor’; local company John M Paterson has chosen Breast Cancer care as its nominated charity donating 20% of any earnings, taken from the Pink Tractor hire, to the charity so come along and have a seat in it and help raise some funds for Breast Cancer Care.
Main ring entertainment includes James Dylan Stuntworld; a motorcycle stunt show performed over two 30-minute motorcycle shows that include ramp jumps, wheelies, stoppies and many more remarkable motorcycle stunts that need to be seen to be believed.  All this around a central core of hilarious banter from the commentator. This show always draws the biggest crowds and there is nothing the riders like more than hearing the audience cheering, clapping and shouting for more!

Opening times 
9.00am – 5.00pm

Admissions
Adults – £15
Children (aged 14 and under accompanied by an adult) – Free
Car park – £4 per car

Dogs: Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome (except in the poultry marquee)

Judges

Inter-breed dairy – Hugh Kennedy, Stairdale, East Carngillan, Tarbolton
Ayrshire/red and white dairy cattle – James McAlister, Bruchag Farm, Kingarth, Isle of Bute
Holstein/Jersey dairy cattle – Brian Davidson, Errolston Farm, Gretna
Calf and showmanship and young stockpersons dairy – Glyn Lucas, c/o Harrison and Heatherington, Borderway Mart, Rosehill, Carlisle
Inter-breed beef – James Alexander, Jalex herd, 88 Gloverstown Road, Co Antrim
Aberdeen-Angus/Hereford cattle – David Johnstone, Ballindalloch Highland Estate, Moray
Belted Galloway/Any other Native breed – John Scott, Bushglen Farm, West Kilbride
Beef Shorthorn – Carey Coombs, Weston Farm, Dunsyre, Carnwath
British Simmental/British Blue – John Hall, Inglewood Edge, Dalston, Carlisle
Any other Continental breed – Ms Leanne Workman, 97 Deer Park, Kilwaughler, Larne
Commercial cattle – Gareth Small, 3 Irvington Close, Kilkeel, Co Down
Young stockpersons beef and YFC classes – Craig Robertson, Newton of Logierait, Pitlochry
Inter-breed sheep – Walter Wyllie, Milton of Tulliemet, Pitlochry
Suffolk – Peter Gray, Sornbeg Farm, Galston
Texel – Angus McColm, Crailloch Farm, Port William
Charollais – Herbie Kennedy, Parkcroft, Parkgate, Dumfries-shire
Beltex – James Whiteford, Tercrosset, West Hall, Brampton
Border Leicester – Alex Watson, Culticheldoch Farm Cottage, Muthill, Crieff
Border Leicester/ Bluefaced Leicester traditional-type – Miss Jennifer Brown, Millmoor Farm, Sandilands, Lanarkshire
Any other Continental breed and commercial sheep – Graeme Sinclair, Carnaval Farm, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas 
Bluefaced Leicester crossing-type and Blackface sheep – Jack Kay, Hartside, Oxton, Lauder
Zwartbles – Tom Blamire, Whinnow, Mid Whinnow Farm, Thursby, Carlisle
Hampshire Down – Miss Josephine Wray, 56 Slane Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim
Ryeland – Raymond Aitken, Newton of Fetternear, Inverurie
Young stockpersons sheep competition – Colin Mair, Montgomerieston Farm, Dalrymple
Goats – Richard Wood, Green Dragon Farm, Hurst, Richmond, North Yorkshire
Ayrshire Goat Club Spring Show – Mrs V Hardy, 1 Ashfield School House, Kirby in Ashfield, Nottingham
Clydesdale horses – Alasdair Fletcher, Laigh Hatton Farm Bungalow, Old Greenock Road, Bishopton
Sticks and crooks – George Smith, 4 Bridge Street, Brydekirk, Annan
Trade stands – Mrs Isabell Montgomerie, Ochiltree, and J McGhee, Pollock Farm Equipment

YFC stockjudging 
Dairy  – Graham Mackie
Beef – Ashley Bothwell
Sheep – Wallace Kennedy

Poultry – Mrs H Dickson, Carluke, Lanark; D Nixon, Egremont, Cumbria; D Nesbitt, Seascale, Cumbria, and S Baines, Holmrook, Cumbria
Truck Ayr – Cunningham, Cunningham Truck Parts, Unit 5, Western Industrial Estate, Cruthie Road,