Why not enter our Leek and Agricultural Shows as part of our annual Great North Festival of Agriculture this year?
We hope you have been perfecting those peg dolls, growing out-of-this-world onions, creating faultless floral arrangements and making scrumptious stotties!
The Leek Show takes place on 10th and 11th September and there are competitions for beetroots, carrots, pea pods and potatoes (as pulled, tops on and cleaned is the important rule here!)
Debra Calder, Rural Life Supervisor at the 1940s Farm and in charge of the industry section of the festival, said: “This year the flower arrangement for the Leek Show is titled ‘70 years of Cannes Film Festival’ – the more imaginative and creative the arrangements, the better!”
Andy Nesbitt, Gardening Team Leader, offered this top tip for the Leek Show: “Vegetables should be similar in size, texture and colour with no markings. Size does not matter, it is all about the quality.
“When growing your vegetables, try to make sure watering is kept regular, as irregular watering can lead to abnormal growth. Originality is key for the misshapen vegetable category.”
Across the weekend there’ll also be flower arranging, choirs, family activities, brass band performances, refreshments and much more!
The Agricultural Show runs from 15th to 18th September and visitors can also have a go at archery, witness incredible eagle and vulture flying demonstrations, be amazed by sheep dog displays and meet the animals around the show including pit ponies, horses and guinea pigs.
You can also impress with your entries in the industry section including arts and crafts, beverages, baking, preserves, eggs and children’s classes.
Debra said: “It’s lovely when children get involved, the look on their faces when they win is fantastic. This year children can enter classes including handmade greetings card, butterfly cakes and any quilted item.
“Visitors can take part in as many categories as they like and entries are free, so what’s to lose?! There’s the chance to win a rosette and be named a champion.”
Local experts will judge all the classes and prize-winning entries will be displayed throughout the events.
With the owner’s permission, vegetable and flowers will be auctioned on the afternoon of 11th September for the Leek Show and baking, preserves and beverages will be auctioned on 18th September for the Agricultural Show.
While there’s lots of fun to be had at the Festival of Agriculture, it’s all for a great cause too. Debra explained: “Last year we raised £333 for Little Princess Trust, a charity who provides real hair wigs to children who have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment.
“This year, although we haven’t chosen a charity yet, we would really love to hit that £400 mark.”
Entry forms, including categories and rules, can be downloaded by clicking on the following links. For the Leek Show please click here and for the Agricultural Show please click here.
Paper copies are available from the museum’s Main Entrance and the Regional Resource Centre reception.
The Great North Festival of Agriculture also includes Dig for Victory (1st-4th September), Hands on Heritage Skills (24th & 25th September) and Harvest Festival and Harvest Home (1st & 2nd October).
There is no extra charge for any of these daytime events, admission is included in the regular museum entry price and Unlimited Pass holders can get in free!
Good Luck!