UPDATE: The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney TD is set to open the 72nd Virginia Show in Cavan next Wednesday, according to the organisers this morning.

Virginia will be alive with all the sights and sounds associated with early autumn next week. Organisers say it will be a day for everyone: the serious business to the 470 classes happens alongside the food markets, children’s amusements, trade stands and demonstrations.

Champion Dairy Cow 2013
Among the main attractions at the Virginia Show is the 30th Diageo Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow 2013 in association with Glanbia. The competition is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and is expected to attract competition from the top Holstein Friesian breeders in the country who will exhibit their finest pedigree cows in a battle for the top prize of €2,500 and a Reserve prize of €1,000.

Minister Coveney is expected to present the top prizes. Faced with the tough task of tapping out the winner will be Canadian-born judge Lynden Bustard. Along with the cheque for €2,500, the winner he selects will take home the Virginia Milk Products trophy.

Cattle highlights
Gunne Carnaross Mart All-Ireland €2000, Male/Female Weanling Champion, Liffey Meats €2000 Champion Beef Bullock, and the Glanbia Virginia €700 Friesian In-calf-Heifer. Other highlights include the Lakeland Dairy Champion of the Show, Francie Brady Charolais Champion of the Show, A.W. Ennis Interbreed Champion of the Show, Lisgrey House Restaurant Commercial Champion of the show both the North Eastern Simmental and Charolais Clubs will also hold their Junior Championship Finals at Virginia. New to the Show is the Univet Ireland Ltd and Virginia Show Commercial Heifer Championship for all non pedigree baby beef heifers with no permanent teeth on Show Day open to continental and non continental animals.

Dairy seminar
To celebrate the year of the Gathering, Virginia Show has invited farmers from England, Wales and Holland, Northern Ireland and discussion groups to its Summer Tour and Conference 2013.  The Seminar takes place at 10.30am in Virginia College and is entitled ‘Modern Irish Dairy Farming – Best Practice’. Among the speakers is Bertie Troy of Grasstec, Andrew Cromie of the ICBF and Joe Patton of Teagasc.

Champion Beef Bullock
The drawing power of Virginia Show as the number one venue for the exhibitors of top-quality commercial cattle is once again borne out by the large entry to the Liffey Meats €2,000 Champion Beef Bullock Competition each year. Entries are confined to Beef Bullocks, any age. This year celebrates 26 years of sponsorship by our own Liffey Meats and their contribution gives an added boost to their local show.

Male/Female Weanling Champions of the Show
Another competitive display of high-quality animals is the competition to find the champion non pedigree male and female weanling of the show. Sponsored by Gunne Carnaross Mart, who sales attract high-quality stock from all over Ireland. These classes are opened to calves born in 2013. Maximum weight male is 430kgs and female calf is 380kgs.

North Eastern Charolais Club Championships
The North Eastern Charolais Club are holding the North Eastern Charolais Club Junior Championships at Virginia show this year. There are five classes with €200 worth of prize money in each class. Exhibitors are limited to counties Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Louth, and Dublin.

North Eastern Club Simmental Championship
For Simmental cattle breeders there is plenty on offer with the highlight being the finals of the North East Simmental Championship. The wealth of top stock the length and breath of the NE area of the country are attracted to our east Cavan town for the Final. They will compete for the John Morton Memorial Cup. Commercial champion of the Show is sponsored by Lisgrey House and will receive the Jack Love Cup while the A W Ennis Interbreed Champion will also be selected.

This story was updated at 2.22pm, Minister Coveney is now expected to present the top prizes at the show

Follow AgriLand each day this week for daily previews of The 72nd Virginia Show