Main Attractions at the Royal Highland Show 2010

Last year, a record 176,522 visitors passed through the gates of the annual farming and countryside show The Royal Highland Show. The organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) held the first “Highland” in 1822 in Edinburgh’s Canongate on a site now occupied by the Scottish Parliament. The 2010 show, takes place from Thursday, June 24, to Sunday, June 27, and is the 170th.

Here's some of the main attractions:

Lothian President’s Initiative - “Discover Careers – From Farm To Fork”. The aim of the initiative is to encourage young adults of 16-25 to see the merits of a career in the Scottish agricultural, food, drink and allied industry sectors. The show will feature winning project work by young people, plus a career pathway involving leading sector companies.
50th Show exhibition - The “golden” anniversary of the staging of the show at Ingliston will feature pictorial displays of 1960 livestock champions and the coming together of members of the Scottish international stock-judging teams from fifty years ago.
Sustainable Garden Feature – 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. A newly-designed 400 square metre garden plot will demonstrate to visitors how they can contribute to biodiversity and sustainability in their own gardens. Stone masonry apprentices from St Mary’s Cathedral Workshop in Edinburgh will demonstrate traditional skills and hand carve a pair of stone pillars which will remain as a permanent attraction in the garden.
International Influence - The show has a world-wide reputation and attracts many visitors from overseas. This year, delegates in Scotland for the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s biennial conference and tour will be attending. Also visiting will be cattle breeders here for the World Shorthorn Conference and the Hereford breed’s European Conference. Look out for the “Stetsons” worn by the international committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from Texas.
Livestock – One of the world’s best displays of livestock breeding. Almost 5000 head of the finest cattle, horses, sheep and goats compete for coveted Royal Highland rosettes and a host of priceless trophies. The grand parade of prize-winning livestock on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is one of THE spectacles of the show. This is a true example of Britain being the stockyard of the world. Youngsters have an opportunity to shine with young handler classes for sheep, goats, dairy cattle and Clydesdale horses.
Poultry - Cocks crowing, hens laying, ducks paddling. No hybrid layers or broilers on show. The poultry marquee is dedicated to some wonderful specimens of breeds like Scots Dumpy, Scots Grey, Silkies and Wyandottes.
Show-jumping - Fifteen top class competitions with riders vying for prize money of more than £40,000 including a first prize of £5000 in the Gillespie Investment Group Grand Prix. British show-jumping team selectors will be assessing how the top riders are performing.
Renewable Energy - A subject high on the political and public agenda. In a new location in the South of the showground, this enlarged exhibit, once again sponsored by Scottish Hydro Electric, will feature companies specialising in wind and solar power, biomass and alternative energy sources.
Food & Drink at the Royal Highland – the top exhibition of Scottish food and drink plus speciality foods from other areas, non-food ancillary products and cookery demonstrations with emphasis on the current trend “buy local, eat local.” The Scotland Food & Drink Theatre features leading chefs including Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor, Lady Claire Macdonald of Kinloch Lodge, Tony Borthwick of the Plumed Horse and Iggy Campos from Spanish restaurant Iggs in Edinburgh.
“Field to Pint” – A new real ale bar in the South West area of the showground will feature 20 cask beers from some of Scotland’s best independent breweries. The bar will also outline the beer trail from the farms that grow the barley, through to malting, brewing and retailing.
Outdoor Living Area - a host of ideas and concepts in this popular area…whether it’s for pottering about in the garden, cooking alfresco on the barbecue, relaxing on some new garden furniture or soaking in the hot tub! Cook your own barbecue meal at the Cole Henley BBQ Restaurant.
Highland Hall - the country’s largest temporary cattle barn! The Highland Hall is the biggest single span building in Scotland and houses around 1000 beef and dairy cattle at the show. The sheer scale is breathtaking and visitors can get up close to hairy Highlanders, dainty Jerseys and cute calves.
Countryside Area - this 3 hectare site, entered from the West Gate or from the main showground, incorporates a loch and stunning landscaping. Trade stands, demonstrations and events reflecting a range of country sports and activities – gundogs, falconry, fly fishing, ferrets, terrier racing and sheepdogs.
MacRobert Theatre - all action sheep shearing at this purpose built facility which in 2003 hosted the “Golden Shears” World Championships. With the championships being held in Wales later this year, many international shearers are expected to compete at Ingliston, honing their skills in advance of “Golden Shears”.
Children’s Discovery Centre - run by the Royal Highland Education Trust this bustling centre is a must for the young visitor, either in an organised school party or with mum and dad. Hands-on activities help children understand more about the countryside, food and farming. The Scottish Government are sponsoring the Cookery Theatre where 1000 children will learn to cook a recipe using Scottish ingredients.
Live music - All the sounds from pipes and drums to West African rhythms, Scottish folk to German bierkeller oompah music. Programme features Celtic Connections Festival band Blue Flint, the Ian Muir Ceilidh Band, Edinburgh Gang Show and Drumatik, a community-based drumming group from Fife which includes people with learning disabilities.
Forestry Arena - pole climbing, axe throwing, timber shifting, wood carving by chain saw and even in these machinery driven days, horse-logging demonstrations. The sights and sounds of the forestry industry in one specialised location.
Trade Stands & Shopping - the “trade” regard the Royal Highland as one of the best shows for business in the UK. The show has remained true to its core base with a high percentage of its 1000 exhibitors featuring farm machinery, equipment and services although there is an ever-widening variety of shopping opportunities for farm, country and town visitors – from combines to crafts, food to fashion, wellies to whisky! Independent studies have concluded that the economic impact of the show is around £70 million.