THE beleaguered farming community has grasped the life-raft of rejuvenation and moved on — but the spectre of the past lingers.
Disinfectant mats squelching underfoot outside animal enclosures reminded us, least we forget, that not so long ago the blight of foot and mouth stalked the land.
This year cattle were back. But while top quality stock graced the indoor arena at the Devon County Show the quantity was a shadow of previous years. Two thirds of the area had become a blue-carpeted makeshift community of trade and breed stands.
A life-size glassfibre Friesian stood like a black-and-white four-hoofed processing plant — tubs of food at one end and dairy products at the other. This illustrated a fascinating statistic worthy of being assimilated by all agricultural anoraks. Put 8kgs of dairy cake, 75kgs of fresh grass plus 42 litres of water in one end and you get 50 litres of fresh milk at the other.
In the background, bovine bellows from the real thing seemed muted because of fewer entries, and the nostrils were not assailed by the usual heady waft of sweet hay.
'A lot of farmers cannot be bothered to show under the present climate. There is no spare cash,' said one cattle breeder. He said another reason some people were not showing was because of the strict 20-day standstill with strict isolation rules which made it difficult to move stock.
The entries in the pig classes were also fewer than normal — 146 catalogued instead of a total that normally nudges around 200.
Despite a lower attendance, Arthur Uglow from Edgcumb Farm, Milton Abbot, had plenty to be pleased about. Together with his daughter, Ann, they gained first male champion and reserve breed Gloucester Old Spot, and first September female.
This year Arthur was also enjoying the honour of being chosen as senior steward for the pigs section.
'I'm very pleased. It is the pinnacle of my association with the Devon County Show. I never thought I would get to this stage,' said Arthur who has been showing successfully for more than 30 years.
'I'm proud to be senior steward with the responsibility of making sure it all runs smoothly.'
He said things were generally improving: 'It is a lot better than it was 12 months ago. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.'
He would like more young people to take an interest in showing and believes they need encouraging.
'Showing is hard work. You don't come out with a pig you just picked up yesterday. It takes months of preparation. It is hard work — but I enjoy it.'
Arthur says that a lot of young farmers are being forced to look for other jobs.
'Until you get a decent profitability back into the farming industry you will continue to have a decline of the younger people — and that is what's happening.'
John Dawe, deputy chairman of Devon NFU, said farming had got to change.
'I just want to see the resources of manpower and land used effectively. Food security isn't an issue — but fuel security is. We can provide that — and do the world a bit of good at the same time.'
Mr Dawe believes that 40% of European land could be used for fuel crops and sees this as one way forward.
He also believes there is a large market that small farmers could tap into, producing specialist and organic food items.
The mainstream farmer could produce fuel and alternative farmers could go down the organic route and use direct selling.
Away from the cattle the showground was buzzing with a multitude of attractions — a three-day extravaganza mushrooming with tents, marquees, sales stands, equipment, commerce, crafts and the eye-catchingly quirky.
You could win a Massey Fergusson tractor for £1 — although it might look a trifle ostentatious should the proud winner only possess a suburban garden.
Sir Francis Drake and his good lady garbed in full Elizabethan regalia were collecting for the Children's Hospice South West.
Brian and Monica Whipp have been stepping back into the past for 20 years and take their time travel very seriously. 'When you represent a person in history you don't just put on a costume. You have to do it properly — you can't let them down.'
This year Sir Francis and Lady Drake, who frequently entertain visitors at Buckland Abbey, will also be gracing Tavistock Carnival.
In the flower tent, Thelma Watson and partner Geoff Turner, of Barracott Plants, Gunnislake, were celebrating success — for the second year running.
They exhibited at Devon County last year for the first time and were amazed to have won gold. This year the judges gave them gold again.
'We are delighted,' said Thelma. 'We specialise in rare and unusual plants for woodland.
'There is a lot of interest. People have spent a lot of time going to garden centres. They know all the plants they can get there and come to us for something a bit different.'
Dartmoor Dave Denford was stoking up the furnace to demonstrate the blacksmith's art at the Metal Work Feature. Along with colleagues he was at the show to promote quality blacksmith work as opposed to factory products.
'Everything we do is hand-made — and every bit is different,' he said, as the hammer rang a regular metallic rhythm on the anvil.
Outside, the Police Band marched past to a jauntier beat — the tuba reflecting a concave showground in its highly polished rim.
At the Church tent the band stopped for a cup of tea — then played 'Sailing' before marching off again.
'I think it was their idea of a donation,' smiled a lady with the teapot.
Also at the Church tent was the antithesis of Hell's Angels — the Knights of Antioch, leather-clad Christian bikers with white crosses on their back and mean machines by their side.
'It is lifestyle evangelism,' said founder member Jim McCall whose 'Vulcan' black Kawasaki sported the name Jesus on the petrol tank where the manufacturer's logo would normally be.
'I don't want to advertise Japanese — I'd rather advertise Jesus,' he reasoned.
Formerly into drink and drugs he changed his ways and became a Christian with a love of bikes.
'All biking clubs are identifiable by their emblem — we have a cross because we ride for Jesus.
'I got to thinking there had to be more to life than what I had. We go to bike rallies. People see we are different. They come to us — mostly it is because they have problems and no-one to talk to. We are passive, we don't go into people's faces with our beliefs.'
With that a young lady walked past with a fowl waddling contentedly beside her at the end of a lead.
'I've never seen a duck on a lead before,' remarked an astounded onlooker. 'It's a goose!' corrected the young lady. The goose gave a quick peck at the person's shoelace and they moved on.
In a show so full of variety the unusual and exotic almost become the norm.
The Rural Crafts Association tent boasted a section of plants that were clearly a cut beyond the repertoire of those recited by mere gardening novices.
Even the very names possessed an air of horticultural superiority like double-barrelled surnames as opposed to plain Smith.
There was Eau-de-cologne mint, Moroccan mint, Grapefruit mint . . . prostrate Rosemary . . . Aloe Vera . . .
'Allo. And Goodbye.