2019 Turriff Show set to be biggest and best
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE country's largest two-day farming showcase, which attracts tens of thousands of people to Banffshire every year, is set to grow even bigger.
The organisers of the Turriff Show have expanded its focus on food and drink in a bid to tempt at least 30,000 visitors to The Haughs on August 4 and 5.
The show's 2019 president, Graeme Mackie, said: "As organisers of such an important event in one of the iconic food and drink regions of Scotland, it is absolutely right that we shout loud about what we grow, rear and manufacture in the north east.
"This region produces some of the world's most valuable and respected brands in our Scotch whisky, Scotch beef and lamb and Scottish seafood, and we want to make the Turriff Show a big part of its promotion.
"We also have more than 100 tremendous food and drink manufacturers in Aberdeenshire who have built quality brands that are being sold all over the world."
This year's show will feature a food and drink marquee with a cookery theatre staffed by an experienced chef and demonstrator. The aim will be to highlight connections between farming and food, show links to tourism and attract an even larger number of north east food and drink producers to the event.
New marketing and social media resources will be used to help achieve this.
Mr Mackie added the increased focus on food and drink reflected the commitment from the Turriff District Agricultural Association and the show's organising committee to ensure the Turriff Show continues to go from strength to strength.
He said: "The show is a great place to see the whole of the region's food production chain and we have very strong support from Scotland's livestock farmers who exhibit – arguably – the best beasts in our industry.
"We also have the huge draw of our cultural heritage to attract visitors from all over the world."
The Turriff Show organisers will relaunch their new branding and website next month and have recruited Clare Scott, an experienced project co-ordinator, to support the show's secretary, Helen Paterson.
The food and drink expansion is being overseen by Sarah Mackie, a local farmer with extensive experience in promoting local food.
Food and drink producers were invited to hear about the show's development at the Fife Arms Hotel in Turriff on Friday.
