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Nottinghamshire County Show celebrates a triumphant return, including several awards for NTU

The annual agriculture county show took place for the first time since 2019, due to the COVID pandemic.

Equine course stand at the Nottinghamshire County Show
NTU's equine course stall

The Nottinghamshire County Show, held at Newark Showground and organised by Nottinghamshire County Council and the Lord Lieutenant's Office in partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU), resumed service on Saturday 14 May following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judging equine at the Nottinghamshire County Show
NTU representative judging an equine class

The annual show, which celebrates farming, the rural community and countryside lifestyle in the Midlands, not only marked a successful return to operation, but also contributed to early celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which marks 70 years of service.

Being one of the first county shows in the UK events calendar, the Nottinghamshire County Show is an excellent start to the showing season, and this year, the show’s organisers took it back to its agricultural roots; making sure to make the event all encompassing, incorporating livestock, equine and countryside competitions with trade stands, local food producers and craft stalls.

As well as the usual livestock displays and equine performances, the show featured a family friendly dog show and lawnmower race, alongside a multitude of food competitions and a majestic flyby of a Lancaster bomber plane.

NTU Lawnmower at the Nottinghamshire County Show
NTU lawnmower which competed in and won the lawnmower race
Lincolnshire Red bull at the Nottinghamshire County Show
NTU ARES' Lincolnshire Red bull won best in breed

NTU’s Vice Chancellor and the show’s current president, Professor Edward Peck, alongside other colleagues and students from the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences (ARES), welcomed members of the public, exhibitors, farmers and local producers in a number of stewarding roles, representing the School in front-of-house roles, judging positions, and even participating in a number of competitions.

NTU celebrated numerous wins, including the award-winning Lincolnshire Red bull winning best in breed, and ARES’ Young Farmers Club won the lawnmower race for the University.

On an individual basis, BSc Zoo Biology course leader, Sam Ward, won first prize for her Plum and Blackberry Jam in the preserves class; and BSc Jackie Boyd came first in both the cut herbs and rhubarb classes.

Within the NTU tent, ARES representatives hosted stalls for each subject area, with the equine team showcasing visual horse anatomy including skulls and a life-sized model of the equine musculoskeletal system; and wildlife and conservation running quizzes throughout the day on mammals as well as a practical taster session of dissect barn owl pellets.

NTU ARES also had a stall showcasing the innovative vertical farm project that Professor of Sustainable Agriculture, Chungui Lu, has been working on alongside agriculture and horticulture students, fully displaying the breadth of activity the School works on.

Vertical farm showcase at the Nottinghamshire County Show
NTU ARES vertical farm project stall

All in all, the show was a spectacular return to in-person agriculture and rural events within the East Midlands area.

Published on 25 May 2022
  • Category: Press office; School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences