The Hertfordshire Agricultural Society (Registered Charity No. 291037) exists to promote, support and celebrate agriculture, food, farming and the countryside in Hertfordshire, helping people of all ages understand where their food comes from, how the countryside is managed and the skills, careers and businesses that sustain our rural communities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to educate and connect people with agriculture, food and farming; support the skills, businesses and people that sustain our countryside; and ensure that Hertfordshire’s agricultural heritage continues to thrive for future generations.
We deliver this charitable purpose throughout the year through education, community engagement and events. Our activities include the Hertfordshire County Show, our annual Schools Food & Farming Day, careers education, support for agricultural and rural skills, and opportunities for farmers, producers, businesses and the wider community to come together.
The Hertfordshire County Show
The Hertfordshire County Show is our largest annual event and one of the principal ways in which the Society brings its charitable objectives to life.
Our story began with a ploughing match in the grounds of Hatfield House in 1879. Seven years later this developed into a full County Show. Since 1962, the Show has been held at the Hertfordshire Showground in Redbourn and today takes place over the final May Bank Holiday weekend.
The Show gives thousands of visitors the opportunity to experience agriculture and the countryside first-hand. Livestock, farming, food production, equine competition, rural skills and countryside activities sit alongside local food, crafts, businesses and entertainment.
Education remains at the heart of the event. Through areas such as the Hertfordshire Farmyard and Meet the Farmer, visitors can meet the people who produce our food, see livestock up close and learn more about modern farming, food production and countryside management.
The Show also provides an important platform for Hertfordshire’s farmers, producers, artisans, rural enterprises and local businesses, helping us showcase and support the people and organisations contributing to the county’s rural economy.
Education Beyond the Show
Our work extends well beyond the County Show itself.
Through our Schools Food & Farming Day, we bring together schools, farmers, growers, food producers and industry partners to give children practical experiences of agriculture, food and the countryside.
We are also developing opportunities for young people to discover the breadth of careers in agriculture, food production, land management, animal care, horticulture and the wider rural economy, helping connect the next generation with an industry that offers an enormous range of skills and career pathways.
A Society Supported by Volunteers
Volunteering has been at the heart of the Society for generations. More than 140 volunteer stewards help us deliver the Hertfordshire County Show, supported by our staff, trustees, members, exhibitors, sponsors and partners.
Together, they enable the Hertfordshire Agricultural Society to continue its charitable work: educating, connecting and inspiring people about Hertfordshire’s agriculture, food, farming and countryside.
