A WARM welcome awaits, at this year’s Launceston Show on Thursday, July 28, writes show chairman Robert Tucker.

This year we welcome Mr Sam Colwill as our president who together with his wife Maggie have been long term supporters of the show.

Sam has been chief cattle steward for a number of years and Maggie was instrumental in getting our creative community marquee off the ground last year.

This year we are making more of our sheep shearing demonstration by adding a speed shearing competition, some top international shearers are in the area together with some local boys to watch Matt Smith our local Cornish x Kiwi’s shearing record attempt prior to our show.

We thought it an ideal opportunity to offer something more for the shearers, Sam has been influential in getting this off the ground, as a vintage shearer with many years experience. I understand he is keen to compete in this competition and show he has still got it! I will be offering to hold his bowler hat. We wish Sam and Maggie an enjoyable day.

The show team have, as always been very busy prior to the show, the planning of which begins at the end of the previous year’s event.

Unfortunately this year will be the last for our secretary Naomi Hutchings who has decided to leave us for pastures new, she will be sorely missed, has done a great job for the past few years and I am sure has enjoyed her time in the secretary’s role. We will be thanking her properly at the AGM in the autumn.

Having a good team is vital. We have a great team on the committee, over the past few years we have encouraged many young farmers to remain as committee members who together with the WI, floral art and creative community groups have made for an excellent structured committee.

Recently Julian Stanbury, our showyard director, said some of the elected officers are not as young as we used to be. I’m not sure show who he is referring to, perhaps its his way of suggesting we need some younger faces to take on a more active role.

We welcome you all, young and old. See you at the show.

For more information, check out the special show supplement included with this week’s copy of the Post.