0:00:02 > 0:00:03Across the country,
0:00:03 > 0:00:08thousands of farming families work tirelessly around the clock.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Bring them up, Isabel. Well done.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12Here they come.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Shake it, baby, shake it.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16But there's one day each year...
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Come on, girl, up you go.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20..where they get to leave the daily routine behind.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Woohoo!
0:00:22 > 0:00:24These are show days...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Welcome to the Pembrokeshire County Show.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..where they come together as a community...
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Salute!
0:00:31 > 0:00:33..to showcase the fruits of their labour...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Had a quick look at the competition. I'm in with a chance.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40..and try to win prizes for their breed champions...
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Well done. Wahey!
0:00:42 > 0:00:43It's show business, folks.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45..and award-winning projects.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46I got first!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50You can have the last two jars.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51There will be highs...
0:00:54 > 0:00:55..and lows...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57No! No, no, no!
0:00:57 > 0:01:03..for the dedicated farmers who give everything to walk away a champion.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05No way!
0:01:14 > 0:01:15There's a good lad.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20The relationship between farmer and pig goes back some 9,000 years,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22when pigs were first domesticated.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Come on. Come on.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31Today, we meet two pig breeders who are very attached to their animals.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Come on.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Hayley Lake and Linda and Dave Aldous
0:01:37 > 0:01:40are both preparing to show their best pigs
0:01:40 > 0:01:43at the Gransden Agricultural Show.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Slow down, girl. Slow down.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47It's a chance to show them off with pride...
0:01:47 > 0:01:48Nancy enjoyed it.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51..and hopefully bring home the bacon.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06In rural Essex, husband and wife team Dave and Linda are busy
0:02:06 > 0:02:08on their seven-acre smallholding.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11- My turn with the gate? - Yup.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15It's lunchtime, and there are some hungry mouths to feed.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Lottie's the first sow that we ever had.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22And she's quite obstinate. She'll do what she wants to do.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- And she's in charge of the herd. - Yeah, she's the boss.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28She's sentimental value, I suppose, really.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- Yeah, she's guaranteed a long life. - Yeah.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38Lottie is just one of their 30 Oxford Sandy and Black pigs.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42They're one of the oldest native British breeds,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45also known as the plum pudding pigs,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48thanks to their brown and black colouring.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Linda and Dave came later than most to pig farming.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Come on, girl.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Packed up teaching about three years ago now.
0:03:15 > 0:03:16- Totally.- Fully. Fully.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Taught for about 12 years in total,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22but I was a salesman before that, wasn't I?
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- Yup.- And then electrical engineer before that, so...
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Got to do what you got to do, got to put a crust on the table,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32as they say, you know. Now I put meat on the table.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Childhood sweethearts, Linda and Dave spent years
0:03:43 > 0:03:47as city-dwellers, but dreamt of a different life.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49I've never really been a proper townie,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and always wanted to move out, always loved animals.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Our daughter moved to Wethersfield, which is the local village.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- She moved here probably about 14, 15 years ago.- Yep.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07And we just loved coming out here, so we kind of followed, really,
0:04:07 > 0:04:11and sort of found this place, and the house is a real state.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Little did they know that taking on a property project
0:04:14 > 0:04:16would lead to much more.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19This area here was full of brambles,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23and all we wanted was two little babes to clear the brambles.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28But the people we were speaking to decided to give us the sow and pig,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32which is Lottie down the main field, and it's just grown from there.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34- It's quite addictive, to be honest. - Yeah.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45What Linda and Dave didn't realise when they started out
0:04:45 > 0:04:50was that their new sow was an extremely rare breed.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Here you are. Oi.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56In the 1970s, there were only 13 Oxford Sandy and Black
0:04:56 > 0:05:02female lines left, making them rarer than the endangered giant panda.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07Now there are over 500 sows, and 20 of them live here,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09as part of a growing menagerie.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17- Do you mind?- We've got dog, cats, chickens, ducks,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19about 20 odd sows, and we've got three boars...
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- Two horses arriving soon. - Oh, yeah. So two horses now.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27And we've got some sheep behind that copse over there,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30a mother-in-law, and that's all, really, isn't it?
0:05:35 > 0:05:39I was born in Bethnal Green, then we got bombed out.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43One big raid, got bombed out, then we moved up to Enfield.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46We lived in Enfield for 50-odd years.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49And then we moved from there to here.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54This whole countryside lark is brilliant.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58I'm so pleased that they've moved out here,
0:05:58 > 0:06:03because they can fulfil their things what they want to do.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07It's hard work sometimes, especially in the winter,
0:06:07 > 0:06:08but they really enjoy it.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12And I think it's a part of their life they couldn't do without now.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Even though the family have been farming for 12 years now,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Linda still has her old job as an accountant.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25OK. Come on, then.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31In the mornings, Dave does the pigs, cos I tend to go out to work.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Then in the evenings, we both do them.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39But in the evenings, I do like to go out, because it's kind of a release.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43You know, accountancy isn't the most exciting of jobs.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47So it's nice doing something that's just...
0:06:47 > 0:06:49You relax totally, you're doing something.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51I love animals. I've always loved animals.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Although no-one would call teaching an easy job,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Dave works even longer hours now.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04There's loads of people have said when they retire,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07they work harder than what they do when they were at work,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- but it's work I enjoy, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26100 miles away in Guist, Norfolk, Hayley and her dad, Keith,
0:07:26 > 0:07:31rent out five acres of land from a local farmer to keep pedigree pigs.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Ready, girls?
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Eddie's ripe for his breakfast, Hayley.
0:07:39 > 0:07:45The father and daughter team breed Saddlebacks and British Lops.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Come on, then. Do you want your breakfast?
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Rosie. In your bowl.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Hurry up, before the chicken eats it.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58There we go.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59There's your breakfast.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Hayley's day starts early so she can get going to her second job
0:08:12 > 0:08:14as a cleaner.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17My daily routine is I get up and then I come round here.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20I always feed the pigs which are at the farm,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24and then I'll go off to work for the day. I do love it.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Every spare moment I get, I spend with the pigs.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41The family love affair with pigs spans three generations.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48Both my grandfathers had animals, and my grandfather on my mum's side,
0:08:48 > 0:08:49he always had pigs.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Every time I used to go to my grandparents, always run to the pigs
0:08:53 > 0:08:55instead of saying hello to my nan and grandad,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57that used to be, "I'll go see the pigs first".
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Much to little Hayley's delight,
0:08:59 > 0:09:03her dad, Keith, took up the family tradition.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Dad started off by buying about four pigs.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09And I would name them all, and then they would go off,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13but I always thought they went to a good home somewhere.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15But little did I know, then we were eating pork later on!
0:09:18 > 0:09:20COCK CROWS
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Can you undo the gate, Hayley, please?
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Now Hayley and Keith show and sell the pigs together.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Right, what do you want, half a bale in?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- Yeah, just half a bale. - I'll take the other half over.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- Leave me the string. - Right.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- There you go. - Yeah.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Farming's always been my hobby, you know.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Funny thing to say, I look forward to getting...
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Coming down with them and getting, you know...
0:09:47 > 0:09:50And leaning on the gate looking at them, and...
0:09:51 > 0:09:55That's still a pleasure. I hope to keep that pleasure.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58This is all nice and clean bed. Clean sheets for the night.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Hello.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11As well as clean hay, the farm's latest additions,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15nine Saddleback piglets, need special attention.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21There we go. I'll get you some water.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27These are Minty and Sebastian's children.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29These are now ten weeks old.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Hopefully...
0:10:30 > 0:10:34There's one in here hopefully I'm going to show next year.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38I've tagged and notched her, and I've called her Humbug.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Saddlebacks are named after the white band
0:10:42 > 0:10:45or saddle around their bodies.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52These snuffling snouts are around 2,000 times more sensitive to smell
0:10:52 > 0:10:53than the human nose.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Although Hayley and Keith keep the pigs primarily for breeding,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10they also have to balance the books by occasionally selling a pig
0:11:10 > 0:11:12for market.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15The money we get from selling pigs goes into a pig tin,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18but nine times out of ten, Dad'll put the pig tin on the table,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and he'll say, "The pig tin is empty".
0:11:20 > 0:11:23When he mentions the pig tin, that means he's thinking either
0:11:23 > 0:11:26some of the pigs have got to go, or something's got to change,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28so I avoid the subject.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- Good girls.- They're a farm animal. - They are my pets.
0:11:34 > 0:11:35Ah, yes, but...
0:11:35 > 0:11:38But, you know, you do get attached to them, very much so.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42And if there's one got to go and I've got to take it, well,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Hayley don't go with me, I've got to do all the dirty work.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54There's a good lad.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Passion for the pigs. Love them to pieces.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Good lad.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03The pigs here are sort of... They live a life of luxury,
0:12:03 > 0:12:08and they live better than I do! They get well looked after and, yeah...
0:12:08 > 0:12:11They definitely get well looked after, pampered and...
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Although the family are farmers first and foremost,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Hayley can't help having a favourite pig.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24Hi, girlies.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Hello, girlies. Hello, Nancy.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32Get back.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Good girl. How are you?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38This is Nancy. She's just over a year old.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41She was born on July last year.
0:12:41 > 0:12:48Her mum was my prize pig, and I sadly lost her mum last year,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and I only managed to keep two piglets from her.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52She's my little golden girl.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55I am obsessed by the pigs.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Everybody knows me as the Crazy Pig Woman Of Guist,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00cos everything I talk about is pigs.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04As long as people talk about pigs, I don't mind.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- Right, come on. Bit of fencing. - Thank you.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25In Essex, Dave and Linda's seven-acre farm
0:13:25 > 0:13:26needs constant maintenance.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33I think we've got a working partnership now, haven't we, Lin?
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- Yes, we don't talk much. - We don't talk much, no, but...
0:13:37 > 0:13:39You can't do it by yourself cos you've got to be able to
0:13:39 > 0:13:43- tension the wire.- Yep. - And so it's a two-handed job.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46And I like getting it done quick, so Linda's really got to sort of...
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- I've had to speed up.- Oh, I've got to do this one up here.- Yes.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Stop talking, Dave.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Fixing fences is a never-ending task for a pig farmer.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Pigs are notorious for escaping.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11And it's not hard to break free when you're the size of this boar.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14George! George!
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Hello, George.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20He's huge.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24George, he's our first boar, and he's a big boy.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27He's about 300, 350 kilos.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30He's really friendly, but he will try and lean against you for a fuss.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33- Yeah.- So you don't tend to hang around too long cos he just thinks
0:14:33 > 0:14:36he's being really friendly with you.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38He's not scared of anyone.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40You all right, mate? You all right?
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Yeah. You're all right.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45When we've had a sow in season in the field,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48he's actually gone through two pens before now, and got to them.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- Yeah. - Straight through the fences.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Learning how to handle these strong-willed animals
0:14:58 > 0:15:00didn't come easily for Linda and Dave,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03particularly when it came to their first show.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06We took out a little boar, who's actually very good,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09and Bella, who has the seven babes down the back.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12They were the first two we showed, and it was so nerve-racking.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15It was a disaster. Disaster!
0:15:15 > 0:15:17We thought it'd be so simple.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- But it wasn't simple, was it? - No.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21It really was a big learning curve.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24I don't think we was very well prepared at all for that, was we?
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- Not at all. - No.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27And we're still not.
0:15:29 > 0:15:30Darling girls.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34After five years of showing,
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Linda and Dave are starting to see their efforts pay off.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41If you're in a big class, even if you only get second or third,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43it's nice getting something because you know you've done well against
0:15:43 > 0:15:47- the rest of the pigs. - Lucky, she's not a bad pig.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48Got a little bit too much white in her.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52You shouldn't do that, really.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- Keep your legs closed. - Keep them legs closed, yeah.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57And if we get a first, I mean, you're really chuffed,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00cos you know you've sort of beaten lots of other competition.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04It really gives us a good indication of where our herd's going.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- Yeah. - And it's improving year upon year.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09That's what we want it to do, yeah?
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- So we shall find out on Saturday, won't we?- We will.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22In Norfolk, Hayley is also preparing for the Gransden Show.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Good girl.
0:16:26 > 0:16:27Good girlie.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Despite having been surrounded by pigs all her life,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Hayley has only been showing for five years.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38The first time I ever thought about showing a pig,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40I didn't sleep for weeks.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44I was so nervous, and the morning of the show I just remember,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46"Oh, I don't want to do this, I can't do this".
0:16:46 > 0:16:48And the nerves kicked in really bad.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51But everybody made me feel so welcome and it was so nice,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54and everybody was there to help me.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56She hasn't looked back since.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Good girl, Nance.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02This wall display is just from the last 18 months,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06but her winning streak started two years ago with Nancy's mother,
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Alice.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Alice won Supreme Champion of Norfolk Show.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12So Nancy is following in her mum's footsteps.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17When Alice died, it was horrible.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21We just had such a bond together which I don't think you can ever...
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Really hard to find another one like it.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27But Nancy's very close.
0:17:27 > 0:17:28Very close.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Determined to show Nancy off at her best,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Hayley is giving her a daily bath.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Getting pale-skinned British Lops ready for show day
0:17:43 > 0:17:45can take weeks of cleaning.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Good girl. Up you get so I can put your shampoo on.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Up you get.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Good girl.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Yeah, I'd like to be a pig round here. That's a good life.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05You get washed every day and looked after, and...
0:18:05 > 0:18:07..no worries, no stress.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Nancy isn't the only pig going to the Gransden Show.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Walk on. Good girl.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22She's being joined by the family's prize-winning Saddleback.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24This is Minty.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28She'll be two in January.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31She's been out all season with me, showing.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33And she's done really well.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36This is my dad's favourite pig.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Minty can't do no wrong in Dad's eyes.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Good girlie.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52It's finally time to pack up for the show,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and Linda and Dave's daughter, Debbie, has come over
0:18:55 > 0:18:58with two of their grandchildren to wish them luck.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Can you whistle?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05- Here they come. Do you want buckets? - Yeah!
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Here they come.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Aw!
0:19:13 > 0:19:15How many sheep can you get in one bucket?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21I never thought I'd see Mum and Dad
0:19:21 > 0:19:24going round an arena with a pig and a pig board.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29I'm quite proud of them, I suppose.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33I mean, they thoroughly enjoy it, and it's something a bit different.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- No, hats off to them, they've done all right.- Yeah!
0:19:38 > 0:19:43And in Norfolk, Hayley and her dad have time for one more cuppa
0:19:43 > 0:19:46before they head off for the last show of the season.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Yeah, we ain't had too bad a year, Hayley, have we?
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Too bad a year? We've had a fantastic year!
0:19:51 > 0:19:55- You can always do a bit better. - No, we had a fantastic year.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Yeah, I've got to admit, you've done well again.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- All the pigs behaved. - Oh, yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Proud of my pigs. Really proud of them.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06- Did me good. - Yeah.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Proud of your dad and all, are you?
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Course I am!
0:20:11 > 0:20:12Dad do all the hard work?
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- Yeah. - No!
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- Cheers. - Cheers.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- Get the mat out ready. - Yeah. That's it.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30These families are trying hard to keep their breeds going,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32and are hoping they'll be rewarded at the show.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Go on, you're off on a little travel.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40Good girls.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44For Hayley's girls, only the green carpet treatment will do.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Good girl. And on the trailer.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- SHE CLICKS HER TONGUE - Walk on. On the trailer.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Pigs on board...
0:20:54 > 0:20:55..and it's off to the show.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Don't go straight to the beer tent when we get there.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Can we get the showing out of the way, please?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Thank you.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17The sun is rising over the Bedfordshire-Cambridge borders,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20and Gransden is beginning to stir.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26This traditional agricultural show has been going for 115 years.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Although it's much smaller than the big county shows,
0:21:32 > 0:21:37Gransden has always welcomed a wide range of impressive working animals.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39The Gransden show is part of the local scene,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43and the rich tapestry of the locality.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48We've tried to encourage the showing of all sorts of animals,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52fruit, vegetables, corn - you name it, we do it.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07It's 8.00 am.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Dave and Linda have just arrived with their three young pigs,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12who have never been to a show.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- Here we go. - On you go.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24That's it, well done.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Go on, Doris.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32Good girl.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37The stressful bit's going to be getting from here to the ring,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40cos there's no guards there.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Normally, you have fences and you can just walk them straight in.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- So we'll see how they go.- Yeah, there's no point worrying about it,
0:22:45 > 0:22:46is there, really?
0:22:46 > 0:22:48OINK
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Two more.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55They've also brought some help....
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- You can take that in if you want. - Oh, thank you.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00..Peggy...
0:23:01 > 0:23:02..and Ben the dog.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Good girl. There we go.
0:23:07 > 0:23:08Good girl.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Meanwhile, Hayley and Keith are settling in their prized pig,
0:23:11 > 0:23:12Nancy.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Here you are, Nancy. Nancy, breakfast.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Nancy.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21Good girl.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26As long as I think my pigs look nice in the ring, that's my main thing,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30and they're happy, that's fine, and anything we win is a total bonus,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32so... But we'll see how we go.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Fingers crossed they might get a rosette.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43With an hour to go, it's all hands on deck.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46If they kind of look nice and clean and shiny,
0:23:46 > 0:23:50they can sort of see them better. I mean, to be honest,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53the judge looks beyond that and probably just looks at the shape of
0:23:53 > 0:23:56the pig, but it makes us feel better, so...
0:23:56 > 0:24:00They do... And they will kind of comment if the skin looks too dry.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Although Gransden is a relatively small show on the farming circuit,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12it still attracts the crowds.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Over 8,000 people will come to experience the best of
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Cambridgeshire country life.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24It's 9.30, and the competition is already underway.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Exhibitors, if you get ready for Class 74...
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Unlike other shows,
0:24:32 > 0:24:36where animals are kept strictly apart from the general public,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Gransden has a more relaxed policy.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43The pigs and their handlers will have to run the gauntlet
0:24:43 > 0:24:45from the pens through to the show ring,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48passing through the open field and crowds,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51and hopefully, not making a run for it.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55It does work, it's just everybody having to work alongside one another
0:24:55 > 0:24:59and, obviously, making the public aware that there's livestock here
0:24:59 > 0:25:02and... Yeah, it's...
0:25:04 > 0:25:06It all runs fairly smoothly,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09though it looks as though it can be chaotic.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15It's Dave and Linda's first time at this show.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19When we go out to the pig pen, you've got to go through the crowd,
0:25:19 > 0:25:20have we?
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Well, there will be people around, but I shall make sure that they...
0:25:23 > 0:25:27- Cos we've got, like, little runners. - Have you?- Yeah, unfortunate.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29I'm just warning you, sort of thing.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33- Interesting.- It will be interesting. It will be interesting, yeah.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38With three very young and curious pigs, the challenge is on.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44It won't be long before the handlers' skills
0:25:44 > 0:25:46are put to the test.
0:25:46 > 0:25:4810 o'clock is kick off time, so it's more or less just waiting now,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50just waiting to hear what's happening.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Some good-nosed pigs here today. We're up against it.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Hopefully today everything will go all right for everybody.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Both families have done everything they can.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Months of planning, feeding and grooming
0:26:08 > 0:26:09have all come down to this day.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Right, OK, mate, I think they're ready. I think.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19Son Jack is suited and booted, ready to help out his mum.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21- Yep. - Give it a brush.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Come.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Can we have you in the ring, please? Your judge is waiting.
0:26:28 > 0:26:29Come on.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34Jack, who is a pro despite being only 20 years old,
0:26:34 > 0:26:39manoeuvres Saddleback Minty expertly into the field...
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Good girl. Good girl, Minty.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46..a key skill for judge, Sarah Ashcroft.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Can't put a halter on a pig, so, yeah, they take quite a lot
0:26:49 > 0:26:52of practice at home before you get to the show ring,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55so, yah, I'm looking for something that's hopefully going to be
0:26:55 > 0:26:58well-behaved. Obviously, it's coming towards the end of the show season
0:26:58 > 0:27:00now, so most of these pigs will have been to a lot of shows,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03so they should all be well-behaved, fingers crossed.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05OK, thank you.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09This class is for the mature ladies of the pig world -
0:27:09 > 0:27:11the 15-month old sows -
0:27:11 > 0:27:13and they refuse to be rushed.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- Morning.- Morning, you all right? - Yes, thank you. How old's she?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Two in January.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25Hayley looks on in pride at her pig, and her son.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27If you could just walk her on and then walk her back for me, please.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Yeah.
0:27:38 > 0:27:39Come on.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Time for one final good look at the pigs in the ring.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- Well done. - Thank you very much.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56- Thank you. - And it's a result.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Not quite the first they'd hoped for, but a very respectable third.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Well done, my man. - Well done, mate.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09- She looked nice. - Yeah.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Third-place rosette.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- That's good. Right. - Yeah, she looked nice.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Yeah. Jack done a good job, yeah.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17He can do it again!
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Really good. Minty looked lovely out there. Really proud.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25And Minty, she was really happy, really enjoyed it.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Now she'll sleep.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29That's it for the day for Minty.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35The next class in Ring 4B
0:28:35 > 0:28:37as soon as the current class has finished judging.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Hayley and her British Lop Nancy will be up next against Linda and
0:28:41 > 0:28:46Dave, who are increasingly concerned about getting the pigs to the ring.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50- Point them in the right direction. - Yes.- And hopefully they go that way.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52- Is that not right? - Hopefully.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57You can see we're professionals at this game.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01The next round is for their older Oxford Sandy and Blacks, Florence
0:29:01 > 0:29:05and Ruby, who don't appear to be in the mood for hijinks.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09In a minute, we'll go and wake them up a bit,
0:29:09 > 0:29:10cos they look too relaxed, don't they?
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Yeah.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Come on, girl.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15Come on. That's a girl.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19Come on, girl.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21Come on, girl. On you come.
0:29:21 > 0:29:22That's it.
0:29:23 > 0:29:24Yeah.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Are we out there now? Yeah?
0:29:30 > 0:29:32- Ready? - Can I have my board, mate?
0:29:36 > 0:29:39It's the moment Linda and Dave have been dreading.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Thank you.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48Group four will be starting in a moment. Thank you.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Come on, girl. This way. This way. Come on.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57With the gate closed, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Good girl.
0:29:59 > 0:30:00Or can they?
0:30:06 > 0:30:11There are nine entrants in this class, and the judge is determined
0:30:11 > 0:30:12to scrutinise every pig.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18OK, if you can walk on for me and then walk her back, please.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Come on.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Lovely, thank you.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30- Morning. - Morning.
0:30:30 > 0:30:31- How old is she? - July.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36Sows are supposed to have two litters a year to be shown.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39Obviously, you can tell the amount of piglets it's raised
0:30:39 > 0:30:40by how its underline looks.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44It's been sucked halfway along, then the back teats haven't been used,
0:30:44 > 0:30:47then it's not produced very many litters, so it's not a very good,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50productive sow. So the more piglets they have, the better, obviously,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53because that's the more money you're going to make out of them
0:30:53 > 0:30:54at the end.
0:30:54 > 0:30:55Good girl. Thank you.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Come on.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02Thank you.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Finally, the decision has been made.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12201. Where's 201 disappeared to?
0:31:12 > 0:31:14Come on. Where has 201 gone?
0:31:16 > 0:31:17They've gone on strike.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- There you are. 201. Well done. - Thank you.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Thank you.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Linda's pig Florence has won third place.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30- So what did you get, third? - Yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Good girl. Well done.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Sadly, no rosette for Hayley.
0:31:38 > 0:31:39Nancy enjoyed it.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Good girl. Good girl.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Third. Got a third.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I'm quite happy, because I think we were a bit nervous about going out
0:31:51 > 0:31:54with the pigs, and that transmits to the pigs, doesn't it?
0:31:54 > 0:31:56So I think, yeah, yeah, all in all, very good.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58There were some good pigs out there, weren't there?
0:31:58 > 0:32:00- There were some good pigs. - So, yeah.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02That's what I'm saying, anyway.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Today's not just about the animals.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14Here, you'll find local master craftsmen and women showing off
0:32:14 > 0:32:17ancient country skills, such as thatching.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Thatching's the oldest form of roofing,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25so when man came out of the caves and decided to become a dweller,
0:32:25 > 0:32:29they used whatever natural materials they had close to hand.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31So even if you go across to the Philippines,
0:32:31 > 0:32:32they'd have used palm leaves.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36Chris Dodson is a fourth generation thatcher.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39I'm very lucky, I've had my dad and my grandad teach me.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43Even at 89 years old, if I'm working quite close to home,
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Grandad will now pop over and say hello, keep an eye on me.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53It takes seven years to complete an apprenticeship,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56and two more to qualify as a master thatcher,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59longer than it takes to become a doctor.
0:32:59 > 0:33:05The houses you work in can be worth hundreds if not millions of pounds,
0:33:05 > 0:33:10and with material in the wrong place or a spar running the wrong way,
0:33:10 > 0:33:14can cause water to run in, you can soon do £10,000
0:33:14 > 0:33:17worth of damage in a few minutes of not thinking.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20With so many years of study for a would-be thatcher,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23it's never too early to make a start.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27I've been coming to work since I was about 11.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32And it is a very interesting thing.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36It's quite hard going to learn how to do it all, but...
0:33:36 > 0:33:38..it is an interesting thing to do.
0:33:38 > 0:33:45Thatching is really much in my soul and in my bones, and the pride I get
0:33:45 > 0:33:48from even going past someone else's work and seeing
0:33:48 > 0:33:53they've done a good job and it's a really good roof and it will last,
0:33:53 > 0:33:54that makes me happy.
0:34:02 > 0:34:07Back in the tent, it's nearly time for the youngest pigs to compete.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09Our young ones are, erm...
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- ..boisterous to say the least. - They'll find any weakness.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Yeah, just hopefully they don't get spooked or something like that.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Yeah, because they can get spooked. - Because if they start running,
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- they're going to run into the fence and...- Take it with them.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22..take it with them, which will be very interesting.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26Dave and Linda brought their three favourites, but unless they can find
0:34:26 > 0:34:30an extra handler, they'll only be able to show two.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32You wouldn't like to help us with a runner, would you?
0:34:33 > 0:34:37- In what class, mate? - The Januarys.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39I can't, I've got two in myself.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41- OK, mate.- Sorry. I would love to, but...
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Yeah, all right, mate, ta-ra.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47We entered three pigs into one class, knowing full well that
0:34:47 > 0:34:51we could only show two, and hoping that somebody would pick up
0:34:51 > 0:34:55the third pig, but the class is very big,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58and we haven't been able to do that,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00so we'll pick the two best to go out, then? Yeah?
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- Yeah. - And just go from there. Yeah.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06But it's not their biggest worry.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Getting the two lively little ones into the ring is.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14- OK, shall I carry on taking them? - Yeah, yeah, take them.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19So far, so good.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24We can't find someone to take the third one,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26so we've only got two out.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Go on, girl. Go on.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Well, we haven't got anybody, so...
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Yeah? It's great if he could. Very far pen, right at the very end.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Yeah, super sub. It's all right, pigs people always help each other.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Everyone's finally in the ring.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01It's the biggest class of the day.
0:36:01 > 0:36:02Let the chaos begin.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18One little Saddleback is feeling particularly frisky.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20No, this way you're coming.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29The judge has to check underneath each pig,
0:36:29 > 0:36:34but she's got her work cut out trying to get up close.
0:36:34 > 0:36:35Impossible!
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Right, finally.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44- I know, sorry! - Thank you.
0:36:45 > 0:36:46Made me work for my lunch there.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49Have a rest.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54The judge has one final look...
0:36:57 > 0:37:01..and it's time to put the out of breath handlers out of their misery.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Right. So...
0:37:06 > 0:37:09- Well done. - Oh, thank you very much.
0:37:09 > 0:37:10Nice girl.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Thank you very much.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16Oh, wow, thank you.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Thank you very much.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Well done.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23But no rosettes for our farmers.
0:37:23 > 0:37:24All right, we're going back down.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27While everyone likes to win in the ring...
0:37:30 > 0:37:34..the most hotly contested rosettes are not in livestock,
0:37:34 > 0:37:35but in this tent.
0:37:41 > 0:37:47In this tent, we've got 76 different classes,
0:37:47 > 0:37:51and about 155 competitors.
0:37:51 > 0:37:56The classes range from cookery through handicraft
0:37:56 > 0:38:01to fruit and vegetables and, as well as that, we have something
0:38:01 > 0:38:05which comes usually from farmers, and that is the corn classes,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09where you have wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas,
0:38:09 > 0:38:11which are judged on their quality.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15Chief steward for home fare and produce and local farmer
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Charles Looker has a lifelong connection with Gransden.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23I first came to this show, I'm pretty sure,
0:38:23 > 0:38:25when I was five years old.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28I didn't go to it very often in my teens or my 20s,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31but the rest of my life, I've made it every year.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36As a farmer, I'm most interested in the corn classes,
0:38:36 > 0:38:40because that tells you a little bit about what sort of year it's been,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42and that actually originally was the whole purpose of
0:38:42 > 0:38:47agricultural shows, going back to possibly the 18th century.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50It was to demonstrate good agricultural practice.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00With judging almost over, it's time for the big awards.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05The judge is awarding best of breed rosettes,
0:39:05 > 0:39:10and Hayley's already bagged Best Saddleback for Minty.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Breed Champion.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Minty got Breed Champion.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Yeah! Go show winner.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20The Saddleback, she walked well, she was a good example of the breed,
0:39:20 > 0:39:23she'd obviously reared quite a few litters.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Yeah, and she was just a nice example.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Here you are, Minty, look. There's your rosette. You look impressed.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32I'll let you go back to sleep. Good girl.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Best Oxford Sandy and Black is next,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39and the judge wants to see two of Dave and Linda's pigs.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Take that one in and take one of the little ones in, please.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- Emily's the best one.- The best one?
0:39:43 > 0:39:45- Yeah.- The judge has got to give you a Breed Champion rosette,
0:39:45 > 0:39:48so just need to be sure which one it is, all right?
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- Yeah.- And she's waiting for you. - OK.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57- What's going on?- We're going to take our Oxfords out for the Champion.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59They want the top... Highest ones in the class.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Come on, girl. No, you stay there.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09It's husband versus wife.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10Pig coming through.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17- This is Emily, isn't it? - Yeah, that's Emily.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19- You're fine. - I get confused!
0:40:23 > 0:40:26With frisky Emily, Dave's at a disadvantage.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29No, you go... Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33And it helps if you can keep the judges onside.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35Sorry about whacking you with the stick.
0:40:40 > 0:40:41- Well done. - Oh, thank you very much.
0:40:43 > 0:40:44Thank you.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Linda scoops her second prize of the day.
0:40:47 > 0:40:48Breed Champion.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52So she's now going to eat the plastic.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Right, that's it.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58At last, a snooze for the pigs, and well-deserved.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Hello, Hayley.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04- Thank you very much.- Well done. - And well done for you...
0:41:04 > 0:41:08- What did you win there? - Breed Champion for Minty.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11- Oh, right. - And we also got a third.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Oh, right. That's the same as...
0:41:13 > 0:41:14It's a fix, isn't it?
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- There you are, look. - That's your tractor.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39That's our tractor. Let's have a quick look at this, then.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Looks like Minty when she's angry.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I think I'm too old for this.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09With two rosettes each, including Best of Breed...
0:42:09 > 0:42:10Makes me proud.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14..our families can be delighted with their show-stopping pigs.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17Well, I've had a really lovely day, you know,
0:42:17 > 0:42:21with my family and my pigs.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23I was really pleased with Minty and Nancy.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27Really, really proud of Jack, of him showing Minty.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30There's been tough competition in the show ring.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32One thing we have learned is that actually we're better with pigs
0:42:32 > 0:42:34than we thought we were.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36That we CAN get in and out, we CAN walk them round the ring.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- We tested our skills, didn't we? - We tested them, and we passed.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40So that's good.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43So I think that's something we've learned about ourselves.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Their success has shown how a year of hard work and commitment
0:42:46 > 0:42:49can reap rewards.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51- Cheers. - All the best.