A RETURN to traditional farming methods was a key feature at this year’s North Yorkshire County Show.

The 38th show, held at Otterington Hall, South Otterington, today (Sunday, June 19) saw record crowds fill the showground and traffic piled back almost five miles to Busby Stoop – forcing organisers to slash ticket prices mid afternoon after gate stewards ran out of change.

Show secretary Alan Andrew announced the best ever entry numbers for sheep and cattle, and other classes including fur and feathers and vintage tractors were also as healthy as ever.

Instead of a high-octane motorcycle display, which have become popular with agricultural shows in recent years, organisers opted for a showcase of straw balers through the ages, with an exhibition and demonstration of modern and classic machines.

Mr Andrew said he was pleased to see how well-received the attraction proved to be.

“It was the idea of our chairman, Colin Johnson, and we don’t think it has been done at a northern show for many years," he said.

“We had to borrow the straw bales from a local farmer and we took them all apart so the balers could put them all together again.

“It is good to give visitors an idea of how things are done, and how the big black bales of straw get like that.”

Supreme sheep champion was awarded to Kenton Foster and his nephew Sam Ward, 14, who was showing the two shear British Charollais ewe.

Mr Foster, from Bellerby, said: “This is the first time I have shown here for around 15 years, although I have been stewarding here every year.

“My nephew has shown an interest in the last couple of years and we are very pleased to have done so well.”

Supreme beef champion was Mick Rodney, from Masham, with his one-year-old British Blue heifer, and dairy champion was a two-calf Holstein shown by James Pratt from Bellerby, who provides milk to the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes.

Show president Len Cragg said the event had been a tremendous success.

“We have had a very big crowd. Despite there not being any motorbikes we have kept everyone entertained with traditional farming demonstrations – it is nice to see how it all happens.”

Also featured were Hurworth hounds and claro beagles, best dressed heavy horses, vintage tractors and Northallerton Area School Concert Band.

Mr Andrew added: “We must have had in excess of 10,000 people here today, compared to the average of around 8,000 or 9,000.

“At 1pm we still had cars queuing all along the lane into the village, and we ran out of change so had to reduce the price to £5 – we thought we had prepared by having £2,000 worth of change but clearly it wasn’t enough.

“We had to get people in so we made that decision. We want to thank all our volunteers, and all the local businesses and farmers from the local community that come out to support us. It is a really community show.”