Enter now to be part of the first Royal Welsh event of 2022 - the Smallholding & Countryside Festival!

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is delighted to announce that the Livestock and Equine competition entries for the 2022 Smallholding and Countryside Festival are now open, and schedules are available on the RWAS website.

All competition entries for the Festival can now be completed online via our entry portal on the website. There is information on how to enter and a handy video guide to help exhibitors with the online entry system. Entries open today (Tuesday 1^st March) at 10am and close Monday 4^th April at 5pm.

Taking place on Saturday 21^st and Sunday 22^nd May, the Smallholding and Countryside Festival will return to the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd for the first time since 2019 and we hope our exhibitors are looking forward to competing once again. The weekend-long event is a celebration of rural life with smallholding pursuits at its heart. A great day out for families, smallholders, garden enthusiasts and countryside dwellers, the Festival has something for everyone to enjoy.

This year’s event will be packed full of hotly contested competitions with competitors coming from far and wide in the hope of taking home a much sought-after title and rosette. Not only could you be adding a prize card to your collection, but thanks to the continued support from our sponsors, you could also benefit from the vast array of prize money, vouchers and special mementos up for grabs.

Honorary Festival Director Geraint James said,

“It gives me great pleasure in welcoming exhibitors from all sections back to the Showground since their last visit in 2019, or if it is your first time in competing at the Festival. I hope that you will all enjoy the feel-good experience at Llanelwedd.”

Commenting on the new online entry system Mr Jones continued, “Despite major advances in the world of technology I would like to inform those exhibitors who possibly haven’t got the connectivity, or aren’t experienced with a computer, that paper copy schedules are available on request from the RWAS office.” He reassured.

“Our staff are here to help, and I hope that fellow exhibitors who are more used to these online systems will help those less familiar with the entry system.”

“Once again, we have a varied and full two days of competitions and entertainment to suit all ages, together with lots of opportunities to observe, listen and learn new ideas and experiences.”

The Livestock Schedule is now available to view on our website. With over 400 classes and special awards for sheep, pigs, goats and cattle, many of which are for traditional, rare and native breeds, there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved. We have a variety of new sections at this year’s Festival, including classes for a new stand-alone Blue Texel Section, a Boer Goat Section, Dairy Cattle Youngstock and Dairy Young Handler Sections. We look forward to good support from breeders for these new competitions.

This year’s Festival Equine Schedule features over 130 classes and is now also available on our website. In addition to show jumping, working hunters, heavy horses, foreign and rare breeds and young handler sections, we are hosting CHAPS Mid Welsh Regional Show, classes for the British Miniature Horse Society, Donkey Breed Society and the Veteran Horse Society Area qualifier. Other qualifiers include The Moorbennhall Youngstock Challenge, the Classical Ladies Side Saddle qualifier, the British Arabian Championships and new for 2022, a class for the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association qualifier.

The Premier Open Dog Show entries are also now open for the 2023 Crufts Qualifier where rosettes, prize money and quality pet food are all up for grabs for the winning canines. Postal entries close Monday 11^th April, and online entries close Tuesday 3^rd May. Visit the FDS website for information or to enter online.

New to the 2019 Festival, we will once again host the woolhandling competitions which take place on Sunday 22^nd May. Entries are set to open soon and will close on Friday 29^th April. Further details and schedule will be available in due course.

Along with all the competitions, the Smallholders Centre and Country Life Area will again be open where visitors can gain useful advice on all things Smallholding related.  As usual, you can expect delicious food and drink from The Food Hall or you can grab a tasty treat in the Street Food area. With exciting main ring displays, interesting tradestands and family fun activities, the Festival is the perfect day out for all.

Tickets are now available from the RWAS website. An adult day ticket costs £16, children are £5 and under 5’s go free.