 Fabulous farm shops had a cheeky day off this month (sort of) and paid a visit to the Devon County Show, yes, it was a bit of a busman's holiday really... After being directed to fields with ample parking we were guided to the entrance and told to remember where we had parked (something I always forget to do!) Scanning our map, deciding where to venture first, we were approached by another member of staff offering their help and direction. Where else does that happen apart from Disney, I ask you? Devon County Show is one of the biggest events in the South West of England and attracts a huge amount of visitors, luckily for us the weather was on our side and we arrived early to a very well organised event.  We decided to meander towards the Children's Farm area where children are encouraged to get involved, be it petting the farm animals or learning to make cheese and we were pleasantly sidetracked along the way. Children could easily spend hours in this area and there's a detailed itinerary of what's on throughout the day. The Bee tent was an education, not only for us but for everyone who stepped inside this tent. The passion and enthusiasm for bee keeping and the effect on the environment was obvious and it was fascinating to watch the bee keeper & hive demonstration. We also thoroughly enjoyed meeting the goat enthusiasts with their innovative goat milk products. Apart from the hundreds of agricultural and commercial exhibits and trade stands, not to mention the non-stop entertainment and judging in the six rings, we came across talented tradesmen namely the wood turner, sampled WAY too much honey, purchased handmade pupcakes and met some fabulous local food producers with many offering samples of their wares. Yes, this really is a huge, family-friendly event bursting with farming, food and rural delights!  The star of the show (for me) was Lifton Farm Shop's fantastic display. Their Peter Rabbit creation truly was a show stopper & it wasn't just the children that stood, opened mouthed in awe I can tell you...Lifton Farm Shop rightly won the platinum award for best overall exhibit.
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