Masham Sheep Fair

One of the great joys of living in a rural county like North Yorkshire is the number of events organised by local communities to support local charities.  Masham is no exception and this year the Masham Sheep Fair celebrated thirty years. Each year different local or regional charities are supported and this year it was the turn of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. 

What amazed me, being at the fair for the first time was not only the fantastic atmosphere but also the number of different local organisations that co-operated and worked so hard to make the event so successful.

Local businesses such as Black Sheep Brewery and Theakston’s were there, as were teams of Morris Dancers including Ripon City Morris and both the Church of England and Methodist churches were fully involved.

The event was also a great social opportunity to catch up with friends and to network with other organisations.

Graham Lilley of the Farm Community Network and Revd David Cleves of Masham

Food always helps people enjoy themselves and it was good to find that wood fuel was being used by the “Wood Fire Dine” company of Leeds to cook some really great pizzas. (Insert Picture) and the members of the Methodist church were busy serving refreshments.

What was good to see were the different varieties of sheep on display not just the ones well known in the Dales such as Swaledale and Masham but also Ryelands (White and coloured)  Dorset and Zwartbles which originate from Holland, just to name a few of long list in the schedule.

 

White and Black Ryeland sheep

Entertainment was provided by a series of sheep races, a sheep show, processions, and sheepdog demonstrations as well as the judging of the different breeds of sheep and commentary and explanations of the different attributes of the different breeds.

The Saturday evening entertainment included “Sheep Tales” with a Pie and Pea Supper which raised funds for two important rural charities the RABI and The Farm CommunityNetwork.

In the Parish church there was a spectacular display of flower arrangements as well as demonstrations of hand bell ringing.

The weekend finishing with a Songs of Praise service in the Methodist church.

All in all, a great weekend with lots to enjoy and in aid of great causes. Next year’s Sheep Fair will again be held in a weekend in late September see www.mashamsheepfair.com for details.