Highland show tickets, online.

[Hilly]

I went onto what I thought was your stand late Thursday afternoon and you and your colleague ignored me. I presume it was you! One had a black SIP polo shirt, the other was wearing something more formal.

I came across to meet you but didn't have a name tag on you so wasn't 100% sure. I'm a bit shy! Didn't want to interrupt as you both seemed deep in conversation.

The same guys were then going over a MF tedder on the AGCO stand later on. I was sheltering under a tree in front of the tedder.


Its a bit of a waste of time exhibiting if you aren't going to acknowledge people visiting your stand, showing interest in your products.

Your not unique in this. Found the same on several stands. Maybe it's me! Top marks to the young chap on the Mchale stand who showed me round the Mchale belt baler and Fusion vario, despite me telling him I would only buy one if I win the lottery. Also the Dutch chap on the dewulf stand with SP tattie harvester who was rightly very proud of his product. Told him I didn't grow tatties, but he showed me several places I could sleep inside the harvester if I couldn't get transport home.

Alot are
Like that , weird all the expense and hassle etc to get their and they are like that, waisting their time.

 

[HAM135]

I take my hat off to the reps on most of the stands,i would have had enough by the end of thursday let alone 4 days of it,i mean how many times can you speak about the weather,price of fert ,folk coming onto your stand slagging of your product etc,i certainly wouldn't swap places.Was down on thursday then back saturday with the family,thoroughly enjoyed it but think i must be growing up as all the shiny machinery not as exciting as it used to be and enjoy watching whats going on in the ring as much nowadays and did manage to walk back to the car in a relatively straight line,did have a moment though and bought a trailer off a stand that had been a cancelled order though!

 

[toquark]

This is the first year in probably 20 or so (excepting covid) that I missed the show. However, of our friend group, of around six couples/families all of whom would have been nailed on for attending pre covid, only two went. Not only cost, but family reasons too. I also think that the last two years have shown us that you can get by without spending £000s at the show, people have simply got out of the habit and have gotten used to spending their money elsewhere. I’m making a concerted effort to support our three local shows this year, kids are even showing some pet lambs

 

[glasshouse]

I take my hat off to the reps on most of the stands,i would have had enough by the end of thursday let alone 4 days of it,i mean how many times can you speak about the weather,price of fert ,folk coming onto your stand slagging of your product etc,i certainly wouldn't swap places.Was down on thursday then back saturday with the family,thoroughly enjoyed it but think i must be growing up as all the shiny machinery not as exciting as it used to be and enjoy watching whats going on in the ring as much nowadays and did manage to walk back to the car in a relatively straight line,did have a moment though and bought a trailer off a stand that had been a cancelled order though!

Its a hard job, same as any public facing occupation, some are great at it, some arent, thats life. But it is essential.
I like to get the lowdown on stuff so i know what i am buying in 5 to 10 yrs seconhand
I think interest in new kit has nosedived since putin went mad, all the cash is going on deisel and fert

 

[Chae1]

It must be hard to get motivated selling new kit when waiting times are over 12 months.

Was speaking to 1 dealer and that was reason he didn't have stand at show.

 

[glasshouse]

It must be hard to get motivated selling new kit when waiting times are over 12 months.

Was speaking to 1 dealer and that was reason he didn't have stand at show.

The highland will have to reel in its rental charges to keep exhibitors coming.
Or the Royal show fate awaits

 

[melted welly]

I take my hat off to the reps on most of the stands,i would have had enough by the end of thursday let alone 4 days of it,i mean how many times can you speak about the weather,price of fert ,folk coming onto your stand slagging of your product etc,i certainly wouldn't swap places.Was down on thursday then back saturday with the family,thoroughly enjoyed it but think i must be growing up as all the shiny machinery not as exciting as it used to be and enjoy watching whats going on in the ring as much nowadays and did manage to walk back to the car in a relatively straight line,did have a moment though and bought a trailer off a stand that had been a cancelled order though!

Machinery lines are a bit boring, but agree it’s probably an age thing. Remember as a kid going with dad and he’d barely give the tractors a look but spend hours on the roofing sheet or ventilation fan stands, I find I’m the same now.

That was the charm of lamma 10+ yr ago, had all the kit but still had the local gems of the smaller specialist companies and one man bands that didn’t come north of the border and you’d never encounter otherwise.

 

[glasshouse]

Machinery lines are a bit boring, but agree it’s probably an age thing. Remember as a kid going with dad and he’d barely give the tractors a look but spend hours on the roofing sheet or ventilation fan stands, I find I’m the same now.

That was the charm of lamma 10+ yr ago, had all the kit but still had the local gems of the smaller specialist companies and one man bands that didn’t come north of the border and you’d never encounter otherwise.

The old lamma was the best

 

[sheep breeder]

Got tickets yesterday morning and into the show.
Good day out and noticed a lot of less stands from 2019, the livestock was good and the only gripe was the judging took so long and dragging it out, seems to be all about the boys with the badges looking important. As a neutral it seemed the sales reps were only wanted to talk to the posh looking people with the badges. The mchale reps are all about sales or they wouldn’t be kept.
Super Charolais bull and a great champion commercial heifer which was Irish bred, great result for Ben Radley winning the inter breed with a charollais hogget ewe.
The two gripes, first the amount of people going around after lunch full of drink and the walking areas with rough surface under foot.

 

[Bob the beef]

Re machinery lines. I think nowadays with all the demo days like tillage, Scot grass, cereals etc, the sight of all that fancy shiny machinery, sitting still loses its relevance a bit. The single day practical shows like scotsheep beef event, dairy event etc probably have much more interest for most active farmers.
Enjoyed my 2 days at the show, but in reality it has just become one big outdoor shopping mall

 

[Gedd]

Re machinery lines. I think nowadays with all the demo days like tillage, Scot grass, cereals etc, the sight of all that fancy shiny machinery, sitting still loses its relevance a bit. The single day practical shows like scotsheep beef event, dairy event etc probably have much more interest for most active farmers.
Enjoyed my 2 days at the show, but in reality it has just become one big outdoor shopping mall

Great yorkshire went that way years ago its the public that spend the money

 

[sheepwise]

I think it's a bargain.
Whole days entertainment for less than 40 quid while also supporting 2 great agricultural charities.

Struggle to get that anywhere else.

Wife paid £180 for a Robbie Williams ticket that she's seen four times before so in grand scheme of things entry to show isn't dear. Do agree that it's the cost of food and drink once you're into the show that makes it an expensive day for a family. Was there Thursday and Saturday and really enjoyed it. Ticketing situation seemed to go ok and was told there was certainly less queuing at carparks and turnstiles. Didn't hear many complaints from the livestock side but to be fair a few of the machinery stands on social media moaning about lack of trade and footfall but is that not because in the present climate a lot of stuff is too bliddy expensive! I'm sure the organisers will reflect afterwards on the changes that were made as to whether or not they were a success. At the same time I felt before the show there were some sad and bitter people out there who were hoping for it to fail.

 

[Always wandering]

I take my hat off to the reps on most of the stands,i would have had enough by the end of thursday let alone 4 days of it,i mean how many times can you speak about the weather,price of fert ,folk coming onto your stand slagging of your product etc,i certainly wouldn't swap places.Was down on thursday then back saturday with the family,thoroughly enjoyed it but think i must be growing up as all the shiny machinery not as exciting as it used to be and enjoy watching whats going on in the ring as much nowadays and did manage to walk back to the car in a relatively straight line,did have a moment though and bought a trailer off a stand that had been a cancelled order though!

Was it’s Graham edwards ??

 

[Always wandering]

I take my hat off to the reps on most of the stands,i would have had enough by the end of thursday let alone 4 days of it,i mean how many times can you speak about the weather,price of fert ,folk coming onto your stand slagging of your product etc,i certainly wouldn't swap places.Was down on thursday then back saturday with the family,thoroughly enjoyed it but think i must be growing up as all the shiny machinery not as exciting as it used to be and enjoy watching whats going on in the ring as much nowadays and did manage to walk back to the car in a relatively straight line,did have a moment though and bought a trailer off a stand that had been a cancelled order though!

Was it a Graham edwards tri axle ??

 

[willie waver]

Had a great day at the show on thursday, scorchio, had a couple of drinks, and met some old friends not seen for years.
Took the family today, had a great time and only spent £3.50 on an ice cream.
Good to be back

did you all have a lick each?

 

[upnortheast]

At the same time I felt before the show there were some sad and bitter people out there who were hoping for it to fail.

More do do with concerned folk who have been around long enough to have watched the demise of the Royal Show and see the same early signs at RHS
1st thing that happened at the Royal (30 odd years ago ) was major machinery makers decided the cost of attending was too great.
- those empty patches of grass mentioned above
Less to see, less people turned up
Slowly it became a slippery downward slope. Lots of people voiced their concerns to the bowler hats, attitude was "It`s the Royal Show, people will always come "
Lets hope the RHS management are sharp enough to spot the problems & find other ways of encouraging exhibitors of all types, which in turn will bring folk through the gate.

 

[Optimus]

Just back from the show.had a good day.some excellent stock on show in the sheep an cattle lines.agree with comments about machinery been less busy than previous years.

Was speaking to some of the exhibitors in the craft tents.got the feeling they weren't to happy.an not sure they'll be back in future years.

 

[sheepwise]

Totally agree about people being genuinely concerned but there are a few you can never please.

 

[Chae1]

It's a townie show now.

Opportunity for us to educate people where there food comes from. Which is particularly important in these current times.

As I said earlier in this thread only 15% of those attending are directly involved with agriculture.

 

[Chae1]

Totally agree about people being genuinely concerned but there are a few you can never please.

Usual suspects, every year.