The final preparations for the north-east’s biggest agricultural event are under way.
The 153rd Turriff Show starts on Sunday when thousands of visitors and traders from across the country are expected to transform the rural surroundings into a carnival of colours and sounds.
And organisers were at The Haughs yesterday preparing the show ground for the arrival of hundreds of stalls, livestock – and even an Australian stunt biker – who will fill the site for the two-day event.
Scott McKilligin, this year’s show president, has paid tribute to its long-standing secretary, Helen Paterson, and the committee for their work in bringing the event together.
He said: “We are looking forward to a good show, big crowds and good weather.”
Mrs Paterson added that more than 25,000 were expected to visit the town over the weekend.
She said: “We’re hoping for some good weather now.
“It’s all weather dependent, so hopefully it stays dry and we can get a bumper crowd.
“Last year we had 28,000 and we are hoping to be up from that.
“A lot of people go into organising the show, but so far – touch wood – everything has gone smoothly. We’re just really waiting to see what the weather brings tomorrow so we can start getting the trade stands set up.”
As well as events in the main circle, traditional competitions including sheep judging and show jumping.
Sheep entries alone are expected to be up this year to more than 100 because of two national championships – the Scottish Ryeland National Sheep Show and the Bluefaced Leicester Progeny Show.
“It’s a great day out for the whole family – there’s something for everyone,” Mrs Paterson added.
“There’s plenty of scope. We just hope everyone makes that little bit of effort to come out and they won’t be disappointed.”
The show takes place on Sunday and Monday, July 30 and 31.
