It’s the time of year when my inbox fills up with humble requests to see if I could “give a mention” to an upcoming show. Sadly, they are a little fewer in number as committees have had to cancel their annual show. Weather, financial pressure and lack of volunteers are the key reasons given for the cancellation of at least three shows around the country this past weekend.

One show that doesn’t seem to have any problems is the Virginia Agricultural Show. It’s celebrating 75 years next month with the blue ribband, the Bailey’s champion cow competition.

Last week I was privileged to be invited to launch this year’s show. Deirbhile and Patrick came along for the spin. As mentioned here before, the M3 is a gift, taking us from Dublin to Virginia in a little over 40 minutes. The fact that there is little traffic using it is always a bonus.

We spun round by Ballyjamesduff first to have a cup of tea with my uncle Philip. The farm fields are always a picture at this time of the year so we went for a little stroll and I reminisced with the pair of them how I spent my summers running through these fields when I was their age.

No mobiles or iPads – just a bike, a football and a couple of buckets to keep me occupied. Buckets? Yes, to use as goalposts on a freshly cut stubbly field as I pretended I was playing in front of a full Croke Park. The two of them looked at me as if I was a bit of a freak. They are probably right on that.

If they did want to send for the men in white coats, they had lots to choose from in Virginia: when we arrived, ex-county footballer and PR man Fintan Cahill, and Yvonne Kilkenny were herding over 200 men and women in white coats into line for a photograph. They spread out on the show ground in the shape of the number 75 as three local photographers were hoisted on a cherry picker to capture the moment. A horse, a bull and a ewe flanked the gathering.

Inside there was the customary spread of tea, buns, cakes and sandwiches, and a general air of warmth. I told the audience how I had always heard of the Virginia Show from my father growing up. It was a day when schools from a wide radius were closed to allow the children attend with their parents. Da was aged one when the first show was staged and three quarters of a century on, it is still going strong. And it is thanks to three key pillars. Firstly, the competitions such as the Baileys Cow are prestigious in pedigree farming circles. Secondly, the financial support of local agri companies. And thirdly, and most importantly, the people.

Few families from around Virginia are not involved in some shape or form on a voluntary basis. I met dozens of people I know from my days in Cavan and they have always been involved in the show, donning their white coats every year, no questions asked. It is a luxury other shows around the country would envy.

By the way, the Virginia show is on on 24 August. Here’s hoping for a dry day. CL