The 2011 Royal Highland Show

What attracts 170 000 people and 5000 head of livestock, is over one hundred and seventy years old. The Royal Highland Show of course. The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society (RHASS) will hold its annual show this year between June the 23rd and June the 26th. Started in 1822 it only attracted 1000 visitors and now attracts 170 times that amount. The show is the counties premier countryside show stopper.

The "Greatest Show on Earth" is an important forum for agricultural business deals, and organizers say that the show contributes millions of pounds to Scotland's economy each year. Livestock, farm machinery, renewable energy products, and much more are available at the show, and the organizers provide access to a business center where prospective partners can comfortably discuss deals. The show organizers also provide a directory to help bring potential buyers together with suppliers, like Dodson & Horrell.

The show features around 3,000 horses and 1,500 sheep competing for more than £1 million in prize money. Livestock exhibitors from the UK, Ireland, and the Isle of Man gather to enter their animals in the main competition, but there are also competitions for handcrafts, show jumping, sheep shearing, and farriery. The best regional producers of honey and dairy products compete as well.

While the main purpose of the event is for breeders to showcase their livestock, the show offers so much more than that. This family-friendly event welcomes children for free when they are accompanied by a paying adult, and it offers a variety of fun and educational activities for them at the Children's Discovery Centre. Youngsters can learn to grind grain, milk a cow, or cook traditional Scottish fare.

The Royal Highland Show also features live performances by artists ranging from the Blue Flint Country Band and the Ian Muir Ceilidh Band to Macumba Afro Caribbean and Commotion Samba. For food lovers, the show will feature more than 100 exhibitors offering up everything from traditional Scottish dishes like haggis to gourmet seafood and irresistible shortbread. At the Scotland Food & Drink Theatre, visitors can enjoy presentations by top chefs like Lady Claire Macdonald, Tom Lewis, and Craig Wilson.

Whether it's traditional tartan or haute couture you're after, the Royal Highland Show also features more than 100 clothing, jewelry, and footwear designers. The shopping doesn't stop there, though. There are also exhibitors offering everything from garden furniture and antiques to fine art. The "Rediscover the Wonders of Wool" event will celebrate Scotland's wool industry with competitions, a fashion show, and live demonstrations of spinning, felt-making, and knitting.

For the active visitor, the Royal Highland Show's Countryside Area will celebrate the many outdoor activities available in Scotland, including canoeing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Visitors to the show will be able to experience all of these activities firsthand, and also learn from experts about traditional outdoor activities like falconry, fishing, and training gundogs.

The Royal Highland Show has clearly earned its nickname, the "Greatest Show on Earth." With attractions for both serious business people and families out for a fun weekend, the show not only stays true to its historical roots and purpose, but it also constantly grows and embraces emerging trends