Devon County Show - Devon County Show celebrates another successful year

Last year’s Devon County Show generated a record turnover after enjoying its third successive rain-free show.

At the Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA)’s recent annual general meeting the organisation’s finances were shown to be in a healthy state.

Chief Executive, Mervyn Hosking, said: “The year was the most successful ever in terms of generated income - the consolidated turnover of the group was a record £2,382,000, an increase of £95,000 over 2010.  But it was not the best year for profit, which was in 2007.”

He reported that total County Show income increased by £32,000 to a record £1,338,000, and Westpoint income to a second best ever of £1,118,000. There was a surplus for the year of £124,000, the 8th successive year of profit.

About half of the County Show’s turnover was accounted for by admission charges, which were slightly down on the previous year. Other income from tradestands, sponsorship and membership had risen. Show costs had increased but only by £24,000 on a total of roughly £1.25m which was very low even in the light of current inflation.

He added: “All areas of the group business were performing well.  There had been major expenditure on capital items during the past year, principally on refurbishing the restaurant and conference rooms with money also spent around the showground.  The main ring had been further improved to enhance visitor viewing areas, a new tarmac road had been built and car parks had also been improved.”

Mrs Mary Quicke MBE was elected president of the DCAA for 2012 and the Hon George Lopes was elected President-elect.  Mrs Quicke thanked the DCAA for electing her to the role of President and she remarked on her own passion not only for farming, but also the County Show.

She said: “I want it to be a great big party, but a party with a purpose, and that is to celebrate farming and food – an extraordinary industry that has extraordinary value, not only in providing us with food but in making sure that we have a planet that works.

 “The Show is a chance to demonstrate that we’re up for it, as food producers and as custodians of the countryside, and to help point towards some of the ways forward.”

 She added that her family had always been eager to promote agriculture and farming to the general public and the DCAA had kept faith with the Show’s agricultural roots.  People were waking up to the importance of farming which presented a huge opportunity for the DCAA.

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