Huge milestone approaches for agriculture show

Ian Bebbington said his dream for the show would be to book a big musical act

The Shropshire County Agricultural Show has been a staple in the county's events calendar since 1875.

It started out in the Quarry in Shrewsbury, before bouncing around various venues, and finally making its home at the county town's West Mid Showground.

Preparations are underway for its 150th show on 24 May, organised by the Shropshire and West Midlands Agricultural Society.

"Certainly from an activity point of view, everything's pretty much arranged," said Ian Bebbington, the society's chief executive.

Much of the events are under wraps until they are revealed closer to the event.

He said they were "delighted to have the monster trucks back" following a three-year absence, and that chef Adam Purnell was doing a cookery section.

"As well as the hundreds of animals, and the best that Shropshire has to offer in animal husbandry."

Livestock is a huge part of the show, held at the West Mid Showground

The show's main aim is to promote the role of the agricultural industry, but over the years it has evolved, and now welcomes thousands of visitors from outside the industry.

"We're ideally placed in the centre of town, we want to get the public there who don't understand perhaps where their food comes from, perhaps don't understand farming, perhaps see it on the news and don't really understand it," Mr Bebbington told the BBC.

"It's about getting them down there and getting them speaking to the farmers."

Mr Bebbington added that his dream booking for the show would be a big musical act like Elton John, Simple Minds or Future Islands.

He has been in the role for 13 years, and said being part of the show "gets in your bones".

The show attracts thousands every year

"The showground and the society has had a chequered history, it almost went out of business in 2009, and it's a bit like a phoenix from the flames really," he said.

"It's been a huge achievement to bring it back into a stable environment."

Looking back, he recalled what he thought were the show's best moments from its history.

"Probably the biggest moment was the late Queen coming on the 100th show in 1975, which was an amazing experience for all."

"She opened our presidents building there, so that was a huge achievement. "