President's Welcome

It’s a real honour to be President of this year’s Penrith Show. After more than forty years of involvement, this show has become part of my life — measured not in years, but in weather, livestock entries, and the number of bacon rolls I’ve managed before 10am.

Agricultural shows are often described as “a great day out,” and they are — but they’re also much more. They bring farming families, rural businesses, and local communities together in a way nothing else quite does. They give us a rare chance to step away from day‑to‑day pressures, catch up with neighbours, and feel part of something bigger.

Although I’m not from farming stock myself, my years as an NFU secretary, my time as an agricultural insurance broker, and my long association with this show have given me a deep admiration for the farming community — for their resilience, their spirit, and above all, their humour. No matter how tough things get, farmers always seem able to find a joke or a smile.

But alongside the laughter and the tradition, we must also acknowledge the challenges the farming world is facing. Farming and rural businesses are experiencing significant change. Costs are rising, pressures are increasing, and uncertainty has become part of daily life. This has a real impact on events like ours. Many businesses who have supported the show for years are finding it harder to attend. That’s why you’ll see less trade stands today — not because the enthusiasm has gone, but because the costs of simply being here have risen sharply.

As we look to the future, we must work together — as a community — to ensure that agricultural shows continue to have a place in rural life. That may mean adapting, trying new ideas, and finding new ways to support one another

Yet despite all this, we are here. Because this show matters. Because our community matters. And because the values agricultural shows represent — pride, resilience, and togetherness — are worth protecting.

My heartfelt thanks go to every volunteer, steward, committee member, sponsor, exhibitor, and supporter. Without you, this show simply wouldn’t happen.

Thank you all for being here today, for supporting the Penrith Show, and for keeping alive the spirit of rural Cumbria. Long may it continue.

Richard Utting (President 2026)