A sturdy stick or a walking pole is a vital accessory for the Ploughing that no one ever tells you about. It’s essential to lean on at vital stages when the vast amount of walking gets too much, or to look thoughtfully towards the sky and wonder, is that solar fencer really good value, or do I have an addiction to buying machinery that lies around the yard underused?

More seriously, well no, not really; it’s also an invitation for random chats and banter with people from all over the country.

Plus, you’ll be inspired to keep walking after reading Karl Henry every week in Irish Country Living. Win, win, it’ll kickstart a new fitness regime.

Welly good

Whether they are the trusty Dunlop or the fancy Hunters, make sure those wellies are well broken in before you hit Tullamore.

There’s nothing worse than blisters and sore feet on the first day after 30,000 steps, and you haven’t seen the half of it yet! Keep boots and spare clothes in the car to cover all weather eventualities.

Cashola

Cash, or the dry stuff as one farmer I know calls it, is still king when you’re on the hunt for bargains, so be sure to bring some if you have a purchase in mind. But not too much!

Make sure you have a crossbody bag or an inside pocket to keep everything safe. Don’t put wads of 50s into front pockets, which the light-fingered can relieve you of them in a crowd, or you can mislay on the vast site. You have been warned.

Hats off/on

Even though drops from the sky have been as scarce as hen’s teeth this summer, it looks like we could have a wet autumn, so get out your Paddy cap, bucket hat, Irish Farmers Journal woolly cap or coloured fedora if you’re a swanky gentleman/woman farmer to stay dry and rock Ploughing chic.

The added bonus is your fluorescent bucket hat from ForestFest makes you easier to find among thousands of visitors when your kids want more money for the O’Neill shirts.

Bagpacking

With shopping opportunities galore at the Ploughing Jamboree, it’s a wonder no one has set up a cloakroom/left luggage business to relieve you of the myriad shopping bags you’ll accumulate getting freebies and specials in the big tents and give you the capacity to buy more.

Without that, a big backpack is a must to carry the essentials for the day – blister plasters, energy bars and a bottle of pop.

When they are all gone, you can fill it to your heart’s content with merch and deals. When that’s full, get back to the car park with your bags.

Another good reason to get as close to the site as you can. Take a pic of your car park entrance and position to avoid argumentative discussions in the fields of Offaly later on.

Roadwatch

Become your own Ploughing AA Roadwatch in the run-up to Screggan by familiarising yourself with the byroads of Offaly and the many fantastic placenames and townlands you might encounter depending on which alternative route you take.

I give you Blueball, Moystown, Ballinguilsha, The Walk, to name just a few. But seriously folks, take heed of the Garda traffic plan in advance of the event to keep the traffic woes to a minimum.

Snap happy

You haven’t been to the Ploughing unless you come home with a selfie with Marty Morrissey.

There’s nothing more Ploughing than a Marty party, so consult your programme for standing close to the TV celeb opportunities over the three days.

Minty feet

With all the walking done and the wallet empty, find that peppermint foot cream you were gifted at Christmas. It is now your tired and sore tootsie’s best friend. Plan B: dig out the Epsom salts.