91Èȱ¬

For many people the Royal Norfolk Show is a glorious two-day event where you can enjoy yourself - and a small army of staff is required to produce one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the country.

From administrators to ground staff, it's a real team effort.

"We've been cutting the grass since the end of March. There are three men, full-time, cutting grass," said site manager Steve Hood.

"The Royal Norfolk Show is the biggest two-day show in England and we keep the showground maintained to a very high standard."

Show jumping at the Royal Norfolk Show

"We attract a diverse amount of people. People from farming backgrounds, but we've got to remember that agriculture doesn't make as bigger part in the numbers it used to."

History of the Royal Norfolk Show

The Royal Norfolk Show's history dates back to the 1800s. For many years the county show moved locations thanks to the support of landowners with parkland sites but for the past 40 years, time and money has been devoted to the creation of a permanent showground.

The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association made its initial purchase of land at Costessey in 1952, with the first show held on the site in 1954.

Today the Norfolk Showground is a business in itself with a separate operating company and more than 120 events a year taking place that vary from large corporate gatherings to small livestock shows.

Livestock competition

In addition to the grand area events and entertainment, for many people at the Royal Norfolk Show there's the serious business of selling and winning to be done.

More than 600 trade stands see the show as a prime opportunity to engage with customers, while others have their eyes on a prize from the agricultural judges.

Tony Barratt is just one of the farmers presenting livestock at the show. He farms at Appleton Farm in West Newton, near Sandringham, and hopes his Red Poll cattle will trot away with a prize.

Red Poll bull

"We go the night before and we're inclined to sleep in the cow trailer which, when my wife first experienced that, she thought it was a bit different," said Tony.

"Then we get up before daybreak, take the cattle out and give them a good scrub and brush up, and then the show starts and we take them into the ring and parade them in front of the judge," he added.

Animals on parade

The Red Poll is the region's native breed and was originally bred by crossing the Suffolk Dun cow (a dairy type) and the Norfolk Red (which was beefier) in 1870. It's just one of the many breeds and animals on parade at the show.

"It's an all-year round thing. You get over one show and you're straight into the next one. The top judges are in demand so we have to get our skates on," said Mary Wright, the show's livestock co-ordinator.

This year's show features more than 1,000 light horse, 168 heavy horses, 666 cattle, more than 100 pigs and 650 sheep.

Fine food

A day at the Royal Norfolk Show can be hungry work for both visitors and those working on the site.

The usual burger vans, ice-cream trucks, beer tents and and chip stalls will be plying their trade. Students from Norwich City College's hotel school will also be on site, running Norfolk In Harmony, their annual showground dining experience.

It's an opportunity for students on the catering and hospitality courses to take the theory out of the classroom and face members of the public.

"On Tuesday we'll take all the crockery, pots, pans and stoves to be connected. And we'll be using anything up to 1,000 eggs across the two days," said Steve Thorpe, who heads up the college's involvement in the show.

Fine food from chefs at City College

The college team is also conscious that the credit crunch is affecting customers' wallets.

"Prices have gone up 30 to 40 per cent regularly across the food spectrum and that makes the chef's life a lot harder," said Steve.

"We've had to review what we do to try and keep the price similar to last year and we've incorporated that in the teaching and learning as the students need to know customers are more concerned what they are spending their pounds on.

"Without the customers we don't have a business and without the business we don't have a job," he added.

Student Kelly Smith is looking forward to the event.

She said: "I'm not nervous about it as they prepare you really well up here [at City College] so it should be easy.

"We've done functions and stuff before. I'm trying to get as much experience as I can and I'm really happy they've let us have this great opportunity," she said.

The Royal Norfolk Show 2008 is on Wednesday, 24 and Thursday, 25 June.

For the latest showground news and coverage 'listen live' to 91Èȱ¬ 'Radio' Royal Norfolk 'Show'.