Liz Shouldice of Lakeland Dairies addresses the launch event for Virginia Show.

Looking forward to another day of warmth and pride

Sustainability was the recurring theme of last Friday’s launch of the Virginia Show.

Summer is well and truly underway when Virginia Show makes its return on Wednesday, August 20.

Amongst the guests were volunteers and sponsors galore, who ensure the show continues to be a landmark in the regional calendar, including guest speaker Liz Shouldice of Lakeland Dairies. The Lisgrey House function room was as packed as the home crafts section on Show Day to welcome the Lakeland Dairies’ chief people officer for the occasion.

Only in the job a year, she has fond recollections of her first Virginia Show outing last August, where she helped to dish out the free samples of Lakelands ice cream.

“What was very evident from the outset is that it is a huge community effort, and it’s people like ourselves here tonight who make it happen - it’s the time and commitment the support and sponsorship and community effort that makes this happen every year.

“My experience, whether it was the Bailey Cow or meeting friends and colleagues, it was a day of warmth, and a day full of pride - I think that’s what made the Virginia show so special, it was being part of a community - and that’s why Lakeland are very proud to work in partnership with yourselves.”

Liz focussed on “sustainability”

“The word is very much in vogue these days but when you are part of a farming community it’s always been about sustainability, you mightn’t have had the fancy title, but it’s always been about the circular economy and sustainability.

“I think as a farming community it’s definitely something that’s in us. In many ways I would say the farming community has been champions of sustainability. Long before it became the buzz word, we definitely knew what it means to care for each other, care for the land, care for communities - and it’s a huge part of our ethos in Lakeland as well.

“It’s not just about the environment, there’s a big focus on our people - our 1,400 staff - on our 3,200 farm families who supply us, and it’s about the commuities, and what we can give back to our community and environment.”

Show President Mary Gaynor ran with the sustainability theme, focusing on attracting new generations into the Show fold. She noticed a photograph had just been taken of all the young volunteers bringing fresh impetus to the show.

“That is my plan from the beginning - get more young people involved and partner them up with some of our senior members as mentors. It did work a bit last year, so we’ll get a few more younger people involved this year.” said Mary, now in her second year as president.

“We don’t want to put them in at the deep end, but nor will we dismiss their ideas. If they have ideas, and are asking why are we doing it like that, can we do it this way? Absolutely, there’s nothing set in stone. The phrase I hate is, ‘Because we always did it that way.’”

This year’s event takes place on Wednesday, August 20 and will feature all the favourite livestock competitions including the blue riband event, the €13000 Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition. Fondly known as the ‘All-Ireland for Dairy Cows’ because it consistently attracts the top cows from all over the island of Ireland, this year’s winner will take the title of 40th Bailey’s Champion.

For those who prefer indoor pursuits their home industries classes are always very popular. They will host the finals of the All Ireland €1000 Fleetwood Paints Amateur Art competition; ICA Guild Skills of the Year competition; Virginia Park Lodge Summer Desserts competition; and The Quality Onion All-Ireland Championship which last year attracted entries from as far away as Co. Kerry.