Agricultural shows: connecting people, place and emotions

Abstract

Agricultural shows are long established and key events, particularly for rural communities, but with many interconnections to wider society. They are a space that displays the finest livestock, mechanical, technological, and skills innovations, but with many underlying economic, social, cultural and environmental features and influences (Langridge-Thomas et al., 2021). Despite their multifaceted significance, they remain relatively understudied leisure events within the literature, particularly in the sphere of participant's emotional connections to these events, something which the research in this article begins to address. These long-established events provide an environment in which participants attach significant emotions to their attendance, influencing memories of their involvement. The shows act as a platform for like-minded individuals to come together, share knowledge, best practices, learn new skills and also to socialise. These connections (whether new or established) exist through the context of space (designated areas within the show) and place and the significance participants attach to these events. Although in the case of agricultural shows, whilst the physical showground might be permanent for the larger shows, the show space itself is only temporary, and this is a vital part of the tradition, heritage and memories generated through attendance at these events.