MORE than 130,000 visitors are expected at the show held in Harrogate from Tuesday July 11 to Friday July 14.
They will be able to see the cream of British livestock, including the Beef Shorthorn, Charolais and Longhorn breed society's national competitions, as well as machinery, food and entertainment celebrating the best of farming, food and the countryside.
On Tuesday July 11 HRH The Duke of Gloucester will make his first visit to the show and will be taken on a tour with show director Charles Mills and HM Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner.
There are a record number of sheep entries this year, with a waiting list since April and additional pens drafted in to accommodate numbers which have reached 3,525, up on last year's record of 3,045.
Two more breeds, the Badger Face Texel and Castlemilk Moorit, are making their stand-alone breed debuts.
This year there will be a unique prize for the supreme sheep in the form of a portrait by artist, Jannette Hill, of the winning animal.
She says: "I chose to paint sheep because they are very much part of the landscape I am used to working in.
"It will be great to work with the owners who will be very proud of their animal and I hope to produce something really special for them."
Visitors from Asia, the Middle East, Canada, the US, Dominican Republic and Mexico will be attending the show, hosted by AHDB, as part of a wider inward trade mission with a focus on discovering more about quality beef, lamb and pork production.
Main ring performer for this year will be the horseman, Lorenzo, who is a huge hit with visitors and last appeared in 2018 and due to popular demand sheep dogs are back this year with their own specially created area.
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The show is hosting Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) on Tuesday July 11 with two events on the GYS Stage which are open to visitors.
From 9.30am-10.10am, a report considering the merits and risks presented by species reintroduction will be launched led by the Committee's chair, Sir Robert Goodwill MP. - Also on Tuesday, from 2pm-3pm, visitors can join Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, Government Minister Mark Spencer, EFRA Chair Sir Robert Goodwill, and NFU President Minette Batters to discuss the future challenges and opportunities for the farming sector with an opportunity to ask questions to the panel.
- The future Farmers of Yorkshire's annual breakfast meeting will take place on Wednesday July 12 from 7.45-9am with Building Business Resilience this year's topic.
- On the GYS Stage TV host Matt Baker, Peter Wright of The Yorkshire Vet and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson will appear in chat shows hosted by TV presenter, Christine Talbot.
- The Cheese and Dairy Show will once again include the charity auction raising funds for Herriot Hospice having raised more than £5,500 for The Samaritans last year.
- The new Innovation marquee will showcase some of the latest farming methods and machinery.
EVENT DETAILS
When - Tuesday, July 11 to Friday, July 14, 2023
Where - The Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ.
Tickets - only available to buy in advance as visitor numbers are capped at 35,000 a day.
Prices - adults £32, children £13 and families (2 adults and up to 3 children) £80 - children under 5 free.
Parking - free
Tickets can be booked online at greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or by calling the ticket line 9am-5pm Mon-Fri on 01423 541222.
