A message from the President;
The dust may have settled on Balmoral Show 2026 — helped in no small part by the occasional shower of rain — but the memories of another successful Show remain fresh.
Weather is always one of the few things beyond our control and, while we experienced some heavy rain and a particularly cold wind at times, the conditions did little to dampen the atmosphere or enthusiasm of exhibitors, trade stand holders and visitors. The Eikon Exhibiton Centre and showgrounds welcomed tens of thousands of people through its gates each day to celebrate the very best of agriculture, food, rural life and industry.
One of the highlights for me was seeing the outstanding quality of livestock exhibited across all sections of the Show. Judges were generous in their praise for the standard of stock presented, and Northern Ireland's livestock industry once again demonstrated why it enjoys such a strong reputation. My congratulations go to all exhibitors, competitors and championship winners who helped showcase our industry at its very best.
The positive media coverage generated by the Show was also extremely encouraging. From extensive television, radio and press coverage to the many thousands of social media interactions throughout Show week, the message about the importance of our agri-food sector reached audiences far beyond the showgrounds. It was particularly pleasing to see the success of UTV at the Show, while the recent BBC Countryfile programme provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase both Balmoral Show and Northern Ireland agriculture to an even wider audience.
Events such as Balmoral Show rely on an enormous team effort. I would like to pay tribute to our staff, voluntary stewards, committee members and other volunteers who contribute countless hours before, during and after the Show. Their dedication, professionalism and willingness to give their time are central to the success of everything we do as a Society.
With Balmoral Show complete, the wider summer show season is now well underway. In my role as President, it has been a privilege to attend a number of show launches, local agricultural shows and rural events across Northern Ireland. These events play a vital role in rural communities, providing opportunities for education, competition, business development and social interaction.
Local agricultural shows continue to play an important role in rural life, bringing communities together while celebrating the very best of local agriculture and food production. Their success depends on an enormous volunteer effort and, of course, a little cooperation from the weather. Having seen first-hand the work that goes into organising these events, I would encourage everyone to support their local show whenever possible.
I have also been delighted to represent the Society further afield. I received a very warm welcome at the Royal Highland Show and, as this goes to publication, I am looking forward to visiting the Royal Welsh Show and continuing the strong relationships that exist between our agricultural societies. Alongside agricultural events, my wife Julie and I were honoured to represent the Society at a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, an occasion that provided an opportunity to highlight the important contribution of Northern Ireland agriculture and the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society.
Other highlights of recent months have included attending CAFRE's Higher Education Graduation Ceremony and the CARAS Awards, both of which recognise excellence, achievement and the continued development of our agri-food sector.
While much of the recent focus has understandably been on the Balmoral Show, work continues across the Society. Council remains actively engaged in the Governance Review process and is further progressing work on the proposed future structure. Once this work is complete, members will have the opportunity to consider the proposals and provide their views before any final decisions are made.
Although plans for Balmoral Show 2027 are already underway, the Society's calendar remains busy, with many important events still to come later this year.
As my first few months as President have shown, the strength of the Society lies not only in its events but in its people. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to meeting many more members, exhibitors, stewards and friends of the Society throughout the remainder of the summer.
Regards
David
President, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society
