The popular Nevern Agricultural Show has a new date and a new secretary and is looking in fine fettle for the future. The show, located at Parc yr Ynys, Newport will this year be held on the second Wednesday in August rather than on the first, and hopefully this will attract more of a crowd.

And although the new secretary, Jeff Merrigan of Cardigan has no agricultural background, he is looking forward to the challenge as his first year in the post.

‘ I think I will enjoy it. Past secretary Gill Chalk asked me to take on the role and for my sins, I took it on! I’ve done the worst of it with the paper work and managed to find judges for all classes apart from two in the sheep section,’ said Jeff who owned Swallow Supplies in both Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn before retiring.

It was decided to move the show date for two main reasons: one was that the show date clashed with the National Eisteddfod and other small shows, and secondly, the farmer will have more time to move his cattle off the field, rather than the standard five to six days.

‘ We are hoping the new date will prove popular, but until we know what the weather does, and the amount of people who turn up, we really won’t know. Time will tell,’ explained Jeff, who will have the full support of the show committee as well as the backing of his son in law, Roger James, vice chair of the show who lives at Penrallt Ddu Farm, Pen-y-Bryn near Cardigan.

The show is also moving up a gear in the horse section and will introduce two new classes in the Working Hunter section – the Novice Mountain and Moorland Mixed Height, rider any age class and the Open Mountain and Moorland Mixed Height class. There will be two new ridden hunter classes – a novice under saddle and a race horse to riding class. And the Coloureds have two ridden classes added – with a ridden pony 14.h.h and under class and a ridden horse over 14.h.h and this because of the increase in coloured ridden classes at local and national shows.

A fundraising family bingo event to raise money for the show will be held on May 1st at Nevern village hall. Open to all, entry to the event is ticket only and can be purchased from any committee member. Evening to commence at 7.30pm with a cold buffet.