The 177th Royal Highland Show, a four-day event supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, got underway today, June 22, in Edinburgh.

The event, which is held at the Royal Highland Centre, aims to celebrate farming, food and rural life in Scotland.

Last year, the show welcomed a record 189,000 visitors and generated £47 million (€53.3 million) for the Scottish economy. Traditionally, a large contingent of people from Northern Ireland would travel over for the show.

The show, which claims to be the largest showcase of Scotland’s finest food and drink, will include the display of over 6,000 farmyard animals.

Admission is free for children aged 15-years-old and younger; approximately 30,000 young people are welcomed to the show every year. A dedicated programme of activities designed to stimulate and educate has also been put in place.

The show is also a valuable opportunity for farmers and producers to meet consumers to gain beneficial feedback, according to the organisers.

Since 2014, the Royal Highland Show Food Charter has been in place. All on-site caterers and food-to-go outlets that attend the show must adhere to this charter.

Only ingredients that have been locally produced and ethically sourced can be served at the show under this charter; this ensures that quality is high and Scottish farmers or growers are supported, wherever possible, the organisers added.

One of the biggest attractions at the show is the high-quality livestock; a variety of cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and horses will be at the showground for all to see.

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The organisers of the event spoke about the quality of the animals present, describing the show as a “must-attend” event for pedigree breeders.

With generations of careful breeding, years of expert husbandry and months of meticulous preparation, the animals are world-class and represent the finest in stockmen’s skills.

“A win at the Royal Highland Show has been proven to increase demand and the value of the award-winning stock,” organisers added.

The show is set to run from today (Thursday, June 22) to Sunday, June 25.