ORGANISERS of one of the few surviving agricultural shows in East Anglia want to use this year's event to show the public that farmers are go-getting entrepreneurs.

ORGANISERS of one of the few surviving agricultural shows in East Anglia want to use this year's event to show the public that farmers are go-getting entrepreneurs.

The theme for this year's Tendring Show, is “futurefarms.co.uk”, showing that diversification is the only way many farmers can manage to continue living on their farms.

Mandy Rix, theme chairman for the show, said some farmers in the UK have found the diversification part of their business has been so successful that it has totally replaced their farming operation, which has subsequently been put out to contract, bringing them additional income and the retention of their capital.

Ms Rix said: “In many cases the participating farmers have stated that not only has diversification enriched their lives financially but their total lives are now vastly more interesting and challenging.”

She added: “Another important point we would like to get across to the general public, is that farmers generally, are not “straw in the hair buffoons”, leaning over a field gate waiting for the next subsidy cheque; but have the drive and intelligence to build a new business from scratch.

“This business will not only help the owner but will also satisfy a consumer demand in some way, and what is very important, provide additional pleasant, satisfying work for country people.”

She added: “With present controls in force, none of the existing successful diversifications have damaged the visual or practical amenities of the countryside; in fact many have had the opposite effect and generally made the countryside a more enjoyable place for all concerned.”

This year's show is on July 12 at Lawford House Park, near Manningtree. Livestock competitions will be returning to the show, for the first time since the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Organisers are hoping to boost the number of entrants in the home and garden community exhibition by making the altering and simplifying the classes.

Wivenhoe is the featured community, with a whole display tent dedicated to it, with a boating centre piece from the Nottage Institute, autonomous robots from Essex University and performances on stage throughout the day.