The Dorset County Show returned this weekend for the first time since 2019.

The event saw 60,000 visitors ascend to the Dorchester Showground at Cokers Frome across the two-day period to enjoy a full programme of events that the show had to offer.

The annual event was cancelled for two years due to the pandemic and this year

Nicki Ralph, Chair of DAS, said: “As the leading agricultural show in Dorset, it is important to us to deliver a memorable County Show. So much goes on behind the scenes to produce the event which requires the hard work of over 300 volunteers. We want to thank the community from far and wide for their continued support. It was a joy to see the showground full once again after two years away, and we’re proud to hold a show that our visitors have known and loved for more than 180 years.

The event organised by the Dorchester Agricultural Society (DAS) featured main ring events such as the show’s first Big Bale Challenge, Shopping at The Avenue, local artisan craft, food and drink, and hundreds of competitive classes for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, through to homecraft, horticulture and sheep shearing.

New to the show this year was the Fabulous Food & Farming Quiz Trail which offered educational information on the importance of interaction between farming, the environment and community in our everyday lives, allowing children to learn while they had fun exploring the showground.

Visitors travelled from across the county and beyond to visit the annual event, with one couple, Jane and Greg Newton, who now live in Western Australia, coming to this year’s show.

Mrs Newton said: “We loved the show so much when we visited last time that we had to return this year - We planned our trip to England around the Dorset County Show, and it was the highlight of our holiday once again.

“We sat in the shade and really enjoyed ourselves watching the ring spectacles, in particular the horse drawn races. It was magnificent, a real day to remember, a world class experience.”

Organisers are already excited for next year’s County Show as plans are already underway as it is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3, 2023.