Very kindly given some free tickets to Stafford County Show this year, so we went along for a look.  Not been for a couple of years, so was quite looking forward to it, and yes, it was an enjoyable day, but like all these country shows, they don’t seem to do much to ring the changes.  The layout and format were much the same, with the same kind of displays featured in the main ring, and the range of trade stands didn’t seem quite as interesting as some shows we’ve been to in the past. 

Having said that, they did have a specific feature tent for Angora Goats, which was interesting – and one extremely friendly goat in particular did his bit for Visitor-Angora relations by putting his front feet up on the bars of his pen and nibbling my hands/coat/watch etc which was very cute. 

Went to look at the sheep too – quite keen on the idea of getting some one day, so it was good to look at the different breeds.  Jacobs do seem the sensible small-holder choice, despite my soft spot for the Kerry Hills.  But now I’ve seen how friendly and charming those Angora Goats are, maybe I’ve been converted!  😉

Also witnessed my first Sheep Shearing Competition!  (Those poor boys haven’t got anywhere to hide in those special shearer’s jeans they wear!!)  They were amazingly swift, but we did notice one or two nicks in the poor sheep – I assume this counts against them in the scoring as (like everything, boys!) speed isn’t everything.

Oh, and picked up some property details for various farms, smallholdings, and land….none of which we can afford – but it’s nice to dream!  😉