Show season has well and truly kicked off and I have found my weekends spent doting on sheep and their lambs switching to photographing champion beasts and chatting to local livestock breeders.

One event which particularly impressed me was the Essex Young Farmers Show. This was huge and the amount of people flooding through the gate as I arrived left me quickening my step, eager to see what the day would involve.

Essex Young Farmers were able to keep agriculture at the forefront of the day, making it a social event for farmers, and an exciting, educational day out for the general public. Organised and run entirely by Essex Young Farmers clubs it is certainly something to be proud of.

Another show, which left me sacrificing a night at the Cirencester May Ball – but all for good reasons – was the Heathfield Show.

South East Farmer sponsored the best trade stand competition and with more than 200 trade stands at the show, exhibitors worked hard to be crowned top.

Best agricultural trade stand over 12 metres was won by agricultural machinery dealers Ernest Doe, while best non agricultural stand went to Chaverey’s solicitors. Plumpton College had reason to celebrate after bagging both best agricultural stand under 12 metres and best East/West Sussex exhibit.