THE traditional start to the autumn and winter livestock shows in the South West will once again take place in Liskeard.

The 96th annual Liskeard and District Prime Stock Show will be in the cattle market in the town centre and at Eliot House Hotel tomorrow (Thursday, October 29).

Held during the half term break the organisers are hoping that families will take the opportunity to visit the show to see the cattle and sheep, helping children to understand more about farming and where their food comes from.

This year’s president is Mrs Jill Chapman, from St Ive, who has been involved with the show over many years helping to run the cattle classes.

Menheniot farmer Mervyn Rowe is the chairman. In his foreword in the show schedule he says: ‘The 96th show has once again been put together by its enthusiastic committee, bringing together country and town folk in competition. Being the first show of the season please support us on the day and make our sponsors proud to keep Liskeard Prime Stock Show very much alive.’

Cattle judging will begin from 10am in the open, local and commercial classes, which are strongly competitive. For the first time this year there is a new class for calves born in 2015.

The Gordon Shepherd Cup will be presented by the show president to the champion beast.

Some excellent competition is also expected in the open sheep classes, with the overall champion receiving The Creber Memorial Cup.

There will also be competitions for hay, silage and roots.

An excellent number of entries will be on display at Eliot House Hotel. There will be classes for grain, roots, apples and potatoes as well as a large variety of classes in the domestic section.

The WI Co-operative competition is this year based on ‘A Children’s Film’ while the Young Farmers co-operative entry is ‘Pantomime.’

All judging will take place tonight, so entries will be on view at the hotel from 10.30am.