Ryedale Show 2026: Spotlight on rural heritage and family traditions at historic agricultural show

Ryedale Show is one of the highlights for country folk and townspeople in North Yorkshire. Stuart Minting reports.

Rural heritage and family tradition were firmly in the spotlight as thousands descended on the spectacular parklands of Duncombe Park to mark the latest edition of the 1855 established Ryedale Show.

Attending the show with his wife, Jan, and all his family, this year’s show President, Harome livestock farmer Ian Rooke, said he had shown Jacob, Charollais and Sufffolk sheep as well as fat lambs and stewarded at the event since he was a teenager.

Attending the show with his wife, Jan, and all his family, this year's show President, Harome livestock farmer Ian Rooke, said he had shown Jacob, Charollais and Sufffolk sheep as well as fat lambs and stewarded at the event since he was a teenager.

Brothers Ted and Oscar Howarth with their British Friesian calves at Ryedale Show held in the picturesque grounds of Duncombe Park in Helmsley, North Yorkshire. Picture by Tony Johnson.

"It's very much my local show. It's a massive honour to be President. I never expected it. It all runs on volunteers, the more we can get the better,” he said.

"I'm having a quieter day today.

"Normally I'd be stewarding so I'll get a chance to see the show. It's one of the biggest livestock shows there is, the setting is fantastic with Duncombe Park in the background and a view right over Ryedale."

Organisers said entries in the sheep classes had been particularly strong, with more than 1,300 contesting classes through the day before James Bailey and his fiance Nikki Ramsey, of Sutton under Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, lifted the interbreed champion with a Badger-faced Texel ewe.

He said: "It means a lot as a lot of hard work and effort goes into these sheep and it proves we are doing something right.

"There's months and months of preparations that goes into these shows. Getting them fed right, the wool trimmed down and the shape right, keeping them in healthy condition.

"It is a passion and you only get out what you put in.

"She's a great ewe. She's had sections or breed champion at every show she's been to, including the Great Yorkshire Show."