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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Fears for future of farming shows | Fears for future of farming shows |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A warning has been sounded that some traditional county agricultural shows in Wales could face a bleak future. | A warning has been sounded that some traditional county agricultural shows in Wales could face a bleak future. |
| The Pembrokeshire Show is celebrating its golden anniversary at Haverfordwest and hopes to attract close to 100,000 visitors during the next three days. | The Pembrokeshire Show is celebrating its golden anniversary at Haverfordwest and hopes to attract close to 100,000 visitors during the next three days. |
| At least 37,000 visited on the first day, a record attendance for a Tuesday. | |
| But an annual event in neighbouring Carmarthenshire has been scrapped with poor public support, fewer volunteers and declining sponsorship blamed. | But an annual event in neighbouring Carmarthenshire has been scrapped with poor public support, fewer volunteers and declining sponsorship blamed. |
| Similar events in other parts of Wales have been hit by bad weather this year. | Similar events in other parts of Wales have been hit by bad weather this year. |
| The Pembrokeshire Show, which features livestock and equine competitions, hundreds of produce stalls, fairground rides, demonstrations and displays, has made a loss for the past two years. | The Pembrokeshire Show, which features livestock and equine competitions, hundreds of produce stalls, fairground rides, demonstrations and displays, has made a loss for the past two years. |
| This year organisers have their fingers crossed for three days of good weather at the showground next to Withybush Airfield and say it will be the biggest event in their 50 year history at the site. | This year organisers have their fingers crossed for three days of good weather at the showground next to Withybush Airfield and say it will be the biggest event in their 50 year history at the site. |
| But in neighbouring Carmarthenshire, organisers of its county show have decided to scrap the annual event which dates back to the 1800s. | But in neighbouring Carmarthenshire, organisers of its county show have decided to scrap the annual event which dates back to the 1800s. |
| We at the Carmarthenshire County Show were down around £5,000 in sponsorship this year Lynn Davies | We at the Carmarthenshire County Show were down around £5,000 in sponsorship this year Lynn Davies |
| Recent years have seen attempts to revitalise it by changing its name from the United Counties Show to the Carmarthenshire Show. | Recent years have seen attempts to revitalise it by changing its name from the United Counties Show to the Carmarthenshire Show. |
| It switched to just one day from two-days, moved from mid-week to a Saturday and changed its traditional mid-August date to late June and early July. | It switched to just one day from two-days, moved from mid-week to a Saturday and changed its traditional mid-August date to late June and early July. |
| Society chairman Lynn Davies said: "We were very disappointed as a committee to make the decision to cancel the show next year." | Society chairman Lynn Davies said: "We were very disappointed as a committee to make the decision to cancel the show next year." |
| He said in 2009 they were looking at a loss of around £8,000. | He said in 2009 they were looking at a loss of around £8,000. |
| "Because of the financial situation in the country I think sponsorship is getting harder to get. | "Because of the financial situation in the country I think sponsorship is getting harder to get. |
| "We at the Carmarthenshire County Show were down around £5,000 in sponsorship this year," added Mr Davies. | "We at the Carmarthenshire County Show were down around £5,000 in sponsorship this year," added Mr Davies. |
| He said the number of volunteer helpers had dwindled, paying visitors were down and they had been hit again by poor weather. | He said the number of volunteer helpers had dwindled, paying visitors were down and they had been hit again by poor weather. |
| "Also of course for the smaller shows we have these rules and regulations which are killing the small shows so it's going to be very difficult for them to carry on in the future." | "Also of course for the smaller shows we have these rules and regulations which are killing the small shows so it's going to be very difficult for them to carry on in the future." |
| The Pembrokeshire Show is the second largest in Wales - behind the Royal Welsh, which has gone from strength to strength. | The Pembrokeshire Show is the second largest in Wales - behind the Royal Welsh, which has gone from strength to strength. |
| It is hoped the Pembrokeshire Show - run by the county's agricultural society - will be back in profit again this year. | It is hoped the Pembrokeshire Show - run by the county's agricultural society - will be back in profit again this year. |
| John Davies, leader of the county council who farms in north Pembrokeshire, has urged people to support it. | John Davies, leader of the county council who farms in north Pembrokeshire, has urged people to support it. |
| He said: "Agricultural shows, like the Royal Welsh and Pembrokeshire, are vitally important in this day and age. They act as a conduit between urban and rural dwellers." | He said: "Agricultural shows, like the Royal Welsh and Pembrokeshire, are vitally important in this day and age. They act as a conduit between urban and rural dwellers." |