WHILE many of us will be jetting off to Spain, Greece or sunnier climes than Europe this summer, many in the agricultural community will descend on Powys next week for the Royal Welsh Show – dubbed the ‘Farmer’s Ibiza’.

It’s said that the Royal Welsh Show is so lucrative to the Builth Wells economy, that some pubs and restaurants can pay staff wages for the entire year.

Just a stone’s throw away from the showground, where likely upwards of 200,000 will visit over the course of the next week, sits Penmaenau Farm, which has been owned by the Davies family for generations.

Gwyn Davies is, among other things, a farmer, pub owner, businessman and town councillor. In fact, he’s just taken up office as Builth mayor for a second term.

But, for 10 days of the year every July, he is all about the Royal Welsh Show and the associated madness and chaos that comes with it.

Then again, Gwyn has never known it any different. “It engulfs us, no doubt about it,” said Gwyn.

“It’s the 27th year for me this year. We’ve been doing it as a family for years, first my grandfather and then mum.

“Me and Gareth (Gwyn’s brother) grew up there and now we have our own families and kids involved, so it’s just always been a generational thing.

“We’ve grown up with it so we’ve never known anything different.”

This year’s show takes place from Monday to Thursday, July 22-25, held at the Royal Welsh Showground, which adjoins Penmaenau land, in Llanelwedd, just outside Builth.

While only held over four days, preparations for Penmaenau and scores of other local businesses began months ago.

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“We run the farm and most of our other businesses around this 10 days,” said Gwyn, whose family also run a pub in Builth, as well as an events business, mobile bars and even an ice cream van.

“The entire calendar, schedule and workforce is focused on and around this event, from lambing to doing the harvest. We’re exactly like the show.”

In addition to running their own businesses, the farm also rents out land to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society – the show’s organisers – who cram caravans and campers into every last nook and cranny.

Although the region was hit by two show-less years in 2020 and 2021 and numbers of visitors and traders have been somewhat down in the ensuing two years since Covid, there is never any shortage in the work or preparation it takes to host the visitors descending on a small plot of Powys land.

Gwyn, for example, is expecting 6,000 campers at the farm this year.

“We’re constantly trying to improve a little bit,” admits Gwyn.

Additions this year include a new area strictly for families, while the farm is transferring the Penmaenau Speed Shear into the main shed, just so they have enough room for people who crammed in last year to watch the inaugural event.

It’s said that the Royal Welsh Show is so lucrative to the Builth Wells economy, that some pubs and restaurants can pay staff wages for the entire year. It’s said that the Royal Welsh Show is so lucrative to the Builth Wells economy, that some pubs and restaurants can pay staff wages for the entire year. (Image: Royal Welsh Agricultural Society)

“We’re using every bit of land, shed and machinery,” said Gwyn.

“The speed shear is like NASCAR for farmers. It’s such a rush and was a wild event last year.”

Speed shearing has become a huge spectator event in recent years, with another spin-off event taking place in the livestock market in Builth.

Prizes are on offer in junior, intermediate, senior and open categories, as well as entry to the prestigious 2025 Wagga Speed Shear competition.

“From here, people will be selected to go to Australia, which is great,” said Gwyn.

“It’s obviously getting to be a big thing. It’s the second year up at the farm; we dipped our toe last year and it was very popular. Far bigger than what we anticipated.

 

“We staged it in one of the smaller sheds last year, so we’re moving it to main shed so we can get more people in there this year. We’re building a shearing stage especially for it.

“We’ve got TVs going in and have been getting sponsors, including Heiniger.”

Penmaenau Events have put up more than £3,000 in prize money, with the main prize for the open winner £1,000.

Competitors pay to enter, but it’s free to watch, with all entry fees being donated to the DPJ Foundation.

The speed shear takes place on Monday, July 22, at 6pm, doors open at 5pm.