Unless my memory fails me, when I started going to the Royal Welsh Show 20 years ago, minority breeds such as the Welsh Black and Beef Shorthorn were down to a handful, but now they are revitalised with prestigious numbers being exhibited, though a lot of the exhibitors would be hobby farmers.

I particularly enjoyed the sight of the prizewinning Beef Shorthorn bull and did enquire about the price, but that was far as that went.

It was very rewarding and reassuring that the two most popular events were the Welsh Cob stallion class and the inter hunt relay, which I think has its roots in Ireland.

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Both classes took place in front of a packed grandstand and ringside, with loud roars of appreciation as the Cobs did their individual extravagant extended trot, 27 in all.

The excitement and shouts of encouragement during the hunt relay were indescribable. Opening and shutting the gate was the trickiest obstacle, with a few falls over the jumps and one collision at speed.

As Nigel Farage of the Reform party left a press conference, I managed to get a photo of him and the other end of the table together.

We do not particularly agree with his principles, but the photo was for the local press. We feel, as a touchline judge, that he is currently promising the Earth but is a stranger to power.

Feed situation

On the feed situation, I find it very frustrating watching loads of straw leaving Wiltshire down the M4 for south Wales, where there is a surfeit of fodder and some farms with lots of silage and no stock. The same lorries are coming back empty.

I approached two farming charities which help out farmers in trouble, telling them we don't need money yet, we need fodder, so we need a phone number we can ring.

The same phone number for farmers without fodder and farmers who can provide it and for lorries with empty return loads. We can’t wait till Christmas when we all hit the wall.

The response in the charities was limited.