The importance of the pork industry to the Suffolk economy is set to be recognised in a poster campaign to promote its biggest showcase event as two perky pigs take centre-stage.

The as-yet-unnamed pair feature in advertising to promote this year’s Suffolk Show, which takes place at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on May 29 and 30.

A competition has been launched to name the pigs, with free family tickets and a free car pass for the show to the winning entry.

MORE – Prime arable land values fall across East of England as more comes on marketAs well as celebrating this year’s Chinese zodiac Year of the Pig, the 2019 Suffolk Show poster stars recognise the county’s pig farming industry. Pig farms are a familiar sight across the local landscape and an important part of the county’s food and farming industry, with many of its farmers and producers establishing a national reputation.

Show director Bee Kemball said: “There are many animals to see at the Suffolk Show – from horses and cattle to chickens and rabbits – but this year we’re pleased to shine a light on pigs and the many pig farmers working across this county.

“We challenge the public to get creative and share their own name suggestions for our two piggy poster stars, and we look forward to announcing our competition winner at the beginning of March.”

Last year, the poster stars were Suffolk Punch horses named by the public as Poppy and Passchendaele, in commemoration to the end of World War One a hundred years ago.

The 2019 competition will run on the Suffolk Show Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/suffolkshow. Entries are open from February 1 to 28, and the Suffolk Show team will select and announce the winning names in early March.

The Suffolk Show is run and managed by the Suffolk Agricultural Association. As a charity, the SAA’s core purpose is to promote the importance of food, farming and the countryside to the economy and character of Suffolk through the Suffolk Show itself and a series of education programmes aimed at young people in schools and colleges.

Tickets for this year’s event are now on sale at the same price as 2018. Visitors can save £5 per ticket by purchasing in advance, advance tickets cost £23 while children aged under 15 will once again receive free entry. Visit www.suffolkshow.co.uk or call 01473 707117.