The double trackway at this year’s Ploughing was worth the investment and made it far easier for punters to navigate their way around the 1,500 or so stands.

In terms of standing out, it was obvious that supermarket giants had the most cash to splash on making an impact. However, in terms of replicating the typical high street look, I thought SuperValu nudged it over Aldi.

The Bord Bia stand had a good display, easily translating beef carcases to what appears on the supermarket shelves. However, the stand was lacking when it came to inspiring consumers to eat Irish food.

The best marketing for Irish beef was the secondary school students at the Irish Angus Producer Group stand, who won calves that they will rear for slaughter. Their passion for explaining how they were going to raise the calves to make an excellent product for the consumer was infectious.

The Innovation Arena, showcasing the latest development in agri, was worth a visit and will hopefully be expanded next year. In terms of motoring stands, Land Rover put in a great effort and Nissan’s racetrack simulator was great fun.

Finally, a word for Dairymaster – very friendly staff and the mobile milking unit was worth a look.