The Prime Stock Show, one of the biggest events in the farming calendar, is taking place on Monday, November 22 at Knockaloe Mart.

It’s the night when farmers get together to show off cattle and sheep that have spent their lives predominently grazing on lush Manx grass to produce the finest beef and lamb.

Not all of them are destined for the Meat Plant: there are also classes for animals that will be retained for breeding, passing on those good genes and physical characteristics.

Producing an animal in such peak condition is the culmination of a lot of hard work and care.

The Royal Agricultural Show and the Southern Show committees take it in turns to run the Prime Stock Show and provide the trophies this year is the Southern Show.

As befits such an important night in the Manx agricultural calendar the new Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Lorimer, will be attending and the recently appointed DEFA minister, Clare Barber, has also been invited.

Southern Agricultural Society secretary, Zoe Hampton, said: ’The show is a reason for the farmers to show off their best stock and get together in a less formal situation than the agricultural shows.

’It used to be in the afternoon but it’s in the evening now, starting at 6pm, which helps because farmers have a chance to finish off work and then come along.’

The main prizes are for the cattle and lamb champions and reserves and the young handler champion and reserve and Zoe said that the prizemoney for the young handler winners has been increased this year.

When it comes to the judging the young farmers will choose a judge for their classes on the night; for the other classes, the cattle judge is Steven Radcliffe, and the lamb judge is Alan Radcliffe.

And if anyone fancies having a go at judging themselves, there are classes for young handler stock judging and open stock judging: ’This is if you fancy having a go, to see what your eye is like.

’Most people there will have a good idea what they’re looking at,’ said Zoe.

On Thursday, November 25 comes the follow up to the show where the carcases are judged and this takes place at the Meat Plant. Butchers will be invited, with a number of them being very keen to come and buy the pick of the season’s meat.

As with all events of this kind, the show relies on the numerous people who work behind the scenes, including Brenda and Sheila Skillicorn who make warming soup for everyone, and all the stewards.

Zoe paid tribute to them: ’They appear every year and without them and the support of Knockaloe Mart, we couldn’t really run the show.’

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