YOU know it's really verging on summer when the agricultural shows begin boasting in earnest of their impending performances. The good news is they seem to be holding their own if not bringing in new blood. That means people who have seen country life only on the many TV shows and documentaries currently being aired can view the reality for themselves with the animals that dominate it and the people who keep it going.

The North Yorkshire County Show, formerly the Northallerton Show in less flamboyant times, always seemed to lead the way as the first agricultural show of the season in this part of the world and on June 16 it stages it's 41st event, although the old show dated back to the 1840's.

The Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations reckons six million people will attend a country show this year across Britain, that's one tenth of the population. Around ten thousand will go to the North Yorkshire County Show, the Great Yorkshire Show on July 9,10 and 11 will bring in around 130,000 people. The reality is a good or bad show will depend largely on the weather, if that great yellow ball in the sky emerges for most of the day then it's invariably a success. Pouring rain and as Spectator can happily testify it's a whole different ball game. But the reality is they carry on, organisers forge ahead with enthusiasm and never ending hope that even if they're washed out one year the next one will be glorious, and it often is.

Social media is seen as the holy grail of course as with all things. This year cards can be used at the North Yorkshire County Show, for many village shows this won't be possible but the most important thing is it won't matter because the show will undoubtedly go on.