Weathering the storm to celebrate 50 years of Kintyre’s ‘June show in August’

While this was the 156th annual show, 2024 marks 50 years since Kintyre Agricultural Society first held the event in August rather than June, a change which, to this day, sees the show referred to by many colloquially as “the June show in August”. 

The first August show was held on Thursday August 1 1974 - see From our Files on pages 10 and 11 for more - and it has been on the first Friday in August every year since, apart from three years which were cancelled: 2001, because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first three years were a trial, agreed at the society’s annual general meeting (AGM) in 1974, before it was decided at the 1977 AGM to make the August date a permanent change. 

The show is still going strong today, with exhibitors travelling from across Argyll with their animals and implements for this year’s show, with an exceptional standard of entries giving judges across the many sections a challenging job.

After much deliberation, the judges cast their votes before society president Callum MacPhail handed the champion of champions’ sash to the Semple family of Dippen Farm for their beef heifer which was earlier crowned beef champion.

The other section champions were: dairy: Gavin Semple, Kilkeddan; sheep: R & I Shaw, Aucharonich; Clydesdale: John McLatchie, Moy; horse and pony: Alyssa McEachran and dogs: Megan Lines, Killocraw, with Amber.

Prizes were presented by Wum Semple, who must have been very proud as he handed the trophy for champion of champions to his daughter-in-law Judy. 

In addition to the agricultural activities, there were other attractions around the park including children’s rides, trade and catering stands and stalls selling local crafts.

This year’s main ring entertainment was pig racing, courtesy of Craigievern Poultry & Pigs, that kept the crowds enthralled.

For the first time in decades, the weather curtailed the main ring attractions, with two Kintyre Schools Pipe Band performances cancelled and the tug-of-war, which traditionally concludes the event, unable to be held in the slippery conditions.

Kintyre Agricultural Society thanked all exhibitors, judges, sponsors, companies and organisations that took a trade stand, individuals and businesses who made donations, the main ring entertainers, all stewards and helpers and everyone who braved the elements to attend and support the show. 

Turn to pages eight and nine for more photographs and page 14 for the full list of trophy winners.