Full swing is the best way to describe Yorkshire's agricultural show season right now.

Another eight take place between today and next Sunday, but there is only one midweek show and it attracts one of the best attendances of the period. Danby Show is proof that a rural show doesn't have to take place at the weekend and that it can not only survive but flourish. Indeed, there are those in the farming world who believe all shows should take place in the middle of a week.

The Great Yorkshire, Driffield and Ryedale are all cases in point and Danby, although not in the same league visitors-wise, but with a healthy regular attendance of over 8,000 usually cleans up on those holidaymakers around at the time.

It is a beautiful show that sits in the heart of Danby Dale and has something for everybody. There are fairground attractions for children as well as the main agricultural classes, plenty of food and craft stalls and great music, too.

The road, or rather single track that brings you down via Blakey Rigg and Danby High Moor through the very special village community of Botton, featured in various TV programmes over the years, can take a little time to get along, but this is not an area for fast cars.

Graeme Aldous has provided the commentary at the show for a number of years and feels that Danby captures the very real spirit of what local rural shows are all about. "It's a wonderful show. Everyone comes here to enjoy their day and meet old friends. It's like one big rural family all getting together to see each other. The competitions are taken just as seriously though and everyone likes to go home with a rosette or two."

The show is always well supported by local dignitaries and Robert Goodwill, Shadow Minister for Transport and MP for Whitby and Scarborough, is a regular visitor. The sheep classes are particularly well supported with Moors showmen such as Colin Boocock of Moorsholm, Tim Dunn of Bransdale and Andy Fawbert of Farndale all usually taking part alongside many of their friends and farming colleagues.

This is another show where young stock handlers have recently taken centre stage, particularly in the showing of cattle, and these classes have now almost become exclusively their domain. This year's highlights will include the Stokesley Farmers Beagles and Stape Original Band.

This weekend's fare sees three of the smaller shows today, which offers the opportunity for each to attract a good crowd. Ripley Show, set in the grounds of Ripley Castle Park, is another true-to-its-roots agricultural show and also encourages the younger competitors with a special Yorkshire Club Calf Show. Carriage driving is another highlight of what is becoming one of Yorkshire's increasingly popular shows. Attendances are on the rise at Ripley and it has all the attributes required to become a much larger show if it wanted to.

Also today it is the turn of Sedgefield Show which technically is in County Durham but still counts as a Yorkshire show as they are a member of the Yorkshire Federation of Show Societies. This year is their 155th show.

The third is Norton Show, in Sheffield, held just off Bochum Parkway. Although pretty much unheralded further north than South Yorkshire, Norton celebrates its 105th show this year and although it fits more into the horses and dog show territory than the traditional sheep and cattle classes of many others, there are still rare breeds on show.

That doesn't mean that it isn't traditional though as drystone walling, hedge laying exhibitions, traction engines and steam engines will testify to.

This is one of the area's leading rural shows and the organisers use the funds generated to put on their annual hedgelaying and ploughing event later in the year. Sunday sees Bingley Show, one of the biggest one-day shows in Yorkshire and most certainly in the top 10 for attendances, take place at Myrtle Park. More than 14,000 make their annual pilgrimage here and this year's main attraction is the Red Devils Parachute team.

With just Danby taking place in midweek there's time to catch your breath before next weekend when two of the county's best-loved smaller shows take place. Gargrave Show celebrates its 105th show next Saturday. It is one of the few shows that still has classes in all four of the major dairy sectors outside of the Great Yorkshire and the only one in its area to do so. Its sheep classes are very strong, too, with more than 300 entries.

The other is Rosedale Show which is held in Milburn Arms Field and was founded in 1871. This may not attract the big numbers of entries in sheep or cattle any longer but for an atmospheric day out to a Moors show it cannot be beaten.

Mirfield Show is next Sunday. It's more of a horse and pony event, but they do have other interesting things taking place such as a Bushtucker and Jelly Eating Trial! Is this the future for agricultural shows?

The week ahead

Today:

Ripley Show

Sedgefield Show

Norton Show.

Tomorrow:
Bingley Show

Wednesday:
Danby Show

Next Saturday:
Gargrave Show

Rosedale Show

Next Sunday:
Mirfield Show.