DESPITE all the difficulties and disasters that beset this year's agricultural calendar the Devon County Show has achieved the seemingly impossible.
This eagerly anticipated three-day extravaganza — normally held in May — arrived last week to be enjoyed by all.
There were obvious and poignant omissions — no cattle, no sheep, goats or pigs. But in their place the show programme had provided highly successful compensations. As diversification has helped the farmer so the wide range of trade displays and entertainments has saved this year's show.
If every dog has his day it was never truer than for those being exhibited at this year's Devon County. Normally relegated to the edge of the showground they were literally feted with the red carpet treatment. The Westpoint Hall — traditionally full of the baritone bellows of cattle and sweet aroma of hay — was a becalmed sea of red carpet. Where impressive bovine entries would be tethered there were now dogs of every description obediently awaiting the judge's decision.
Outside, too, in the HSBC arena, canines stole the show with a fascinating display and enlightening commentary by the Essex Dog Display Team. Also enjoying a chance to shine more than usual were the vintage vehicles and steam engines which were able to do a 'lap of honour' in the arena instead of being static.
Mike Merry has been organising the vintage car section of the show for the past 10 years.
'We are normally a static display so this is a bonus. There are cars from the 1930s to the late sixties.'
He says collecting old cars is like any other hobby — it just grows. He currently owns four — a 1928 Willys Whippet, 1937 Ford 8, 1954 A40 Somerset and a 1969 Ford Cortina 1600E.
'Some people collect model cars, others collect the full-sized ones!'
Collecting plants is an abiding interest of many show visitors. Displaying in the flower tent for the first time was Thelma Watson and partner Geoff Turner from Gunnislake who run Barracott Plants and specialise in rare and unusual perennials.
They were particularly delighted because their display won them a Large Gold award.
'People come to us who are looking for something different that they cannot always get at a garden centre. Customers are getting very discerning,' said Thelma.
Barracott Plants specialise in woodland species and although Thelma has been involved with plants for 20 years she is always delighted and amazed at their seasonal cycle.
On the night before the show they were still setting up 10 minutes before the 11pm limit. 'We were busy tidying up dead leaves and labelling. We had also had to go back to Gunnislake to get one more carload of plants because the show space was bigger than we anticipated!'
Meanwhile, over in the main ring things were far from the bucolic tranquillity of the flower tent.
The Roman chariot races had begun and the crowds were already booing Brutus and rooting for good-guy Spartacus.
Also joining the fray — their horses' hooves thundering — were Hercules and Titus. Played against a musical sound track worthy of a Cecil B deMille epic the chariots sped around the arena with well-choreographed thrills and spills.
Motorcycles normally stay on at least one wheel — but not Godbold's Lings Honda Motorcross Display Team. These dare-devil riders seemed to spend most of their time flying through the air in a breath-taking abundance of gravity defying stunts.
For the sartorially challenged there was hope of a stunning image make-over at Susan Aitkenhead's Silk Studio in the Rural Crafts tent. Here, a snip at £37, you could purchase a 'Keep Britain Farming' tie. The ties were all hand-painted silk, as were the waistcoats that featured everything from bubble-blowing tropical fish to a fox hunt dashing in full cry across your midriff.
Brought up on a farm, and a former agricultural student, Susan decided to turn her skills to brightening people's lives with cheerful designs and wry messages.
'I do subjects and themes. Some men do like loud ties,' says Susan.
'Others like the school tie and tweeds. They are what I call 'brown man'. Their wives would like them to wear a bright tie — but they won't.'
Although there were no farm animals at the show there were plenty of others. There were some elite hamsters on show with names like 'Raleigh', 'Betsy Jane', 'Aurora', 'Henry' and 'Henrietta'.
Matthew Rodgers of the Southern Hamster Club owns one hundred of the little furry bundles.
'I started with one like everybody else. Then two. Then the numbers just went on . . .'
In the cavies section Amy Hearle and her mother have a collection of 180 guinea pigs. Not surprising that with so many it becomes hard to find names but it seemed a shame that their best in show was simply 'No 13' — a guinea pig with no name.
David Swales of the Church Army is team evangelist with the Moorland Team Ministry based in Princetown where it serves four parishes and six churches within 250 square miles.
At the county show he was involved in running the church's bouncy castle. 'They can bounce in the castle and we are here for people who want to talk to us in a quiet relaxed way.
'The aim of the show is to let people know that the farming community, despite the problems , is struggling to make farming work — and our contribution is to help support them.'
He said he and colleagues said it was a case of being there to let people 'off-load'.
'This is for everyone. It goes from very serious counselling to somewhere people can come in and have a free tea or coffee,' said David.
And he has it on very good authority that the church tent is the only place outside the show's official tents where you can drink a cup of tea out of a china cup.