Livestock Area

Livestock and agriculture are at the forefront of the Kent County Show and are ever popular with visitors young and old. Exhibitors journey from around the country to enter their cattle, sheep and goats. The livestock are judged on their physical traits in accordance to breed, such as muscle, structural correctness, frame, size, style and balance. Exhibitors will have worked year round to raise a champion animal in the hopes the judge will award them with a rosette. Take a wander through the Sheep Lines, Cattle and Goat Marquees to get up close and personal to all the animals relaxing in their pens throughout the Show, you may even catch the exhibitors making last minute coat clips and tail tweaks before they take to the ring!

The Kent County Show is said to be one of the largest gatherings of Young Farmers across Europe!

The National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs have been operating for over 90 years and have over 22,000 members! Led by young people, for young people, Young Farmers Clubs offer anyone aged between 10 and 28 an opportunity to get into farming and agriculture and make lifelong friends and memories. Visit the KYF Area to watch the showing of their animals and learn more about the Young Farmers clubs in Kent.

The Living Land Village is an interactive and educational area offering a taster of our primary school event held in May. Bursting with activities for the whole family, this area will inspire learning about food production and farming in Britain through different zones.  Meet rare breeds of cows, sheep, goats, and pigs in the Animal Zone, and learn more about each of them in timed talks throughout the day. The Machinery Zone will look at some of the modern-day machinery including tractors, fruit harvesters and combines. Have a go on Hadlow College’s Tractor Simulator or take a seat in our Planting Zone and have a go at planting water cress shapes or salad leaves to take home with you.

Coming in at about 9ft tall, this is one chicken who won’t be found in your picnic basket!  He’s curious, nosy and full of fun and can be seen near the Living Land Village at various points throughout the Show!

Have a tree hug with these pieces of Living Topiary, you’ll never look at your own bush in the same way again!

Come and find them at the meet and greet area at the Living Land Village at 10.00am, 12.00pm, 1.30pm and 3.00pm.

Visit the Wool Tent to learn about the story of wool and see the patient skill of sheep shearing in action as well as learn how important it is for sheep and their shepherds.

Curly’s Farm is a MULTI award winning not-for-profit ‘working farm’ that supports the emotional, social, mental health and wellbeing of young people. As well as ‘day visits’ for primary and secondary schools, the farm provides a range of meaningful opportunities for young people in a supportive, social environment. They focus on the children being part of a team in a variety of projects but also encouraging independence and problem solving whilst there. Through farming, students build their knowledge, confidence, social skills, resilience and teamwork along with many other transferable skills.

You can find Curly’s Farm by Entrance 1, they will also be exhibiting in the Living Land Village with some of their rare breeds, and their Young Farmers will be taking part in competitions in the YFC Area.

Visit the Working Show Dairy to discover the process involved in producing your milk. It’s also the perfect time to ask experienced farmers about the process milk goes through from udder to shelf.