Ploughing on through the summer and into autumn in Studley
IT was almost time to say goodbye to summer but not without the annual Forest of Arden Agricultural Society Ploughing and Hedging Match held near Studley last Sunday which attracted record numbers of contestants not seen since before Covid.
And, it was also time to step down for Sue Westmacott who is retiring as ploughing match secretary after 35 years.
The event - held at Station Field, The Slough, Studley - brings together agricultural heritage, tradition and the sowing of new beginnings as younger generations are now becoming involved in this late September celebration of farming in the fields of south Warwickshire which continue to feed the community.
“It was a fabulous farming Sunday,” said Sue. “We had 110 contestants from Doncaster to Cornwall, and seven shire horse teams and that's the most we’ve ever seen. Two years ago we started a novice pairs class in hedge laying where people team up with a partner and we had a 15-year-old winner in one of the classes. The contest has grown in popularity particularly with younger people. The children enjoyed a sheep dog herding up a group of ducks which kept breaking loose and then waddled towards families where they knew they might get fed by the youngsters.”
Last Sunday, vintage tractors and mighty horses ploughed deep dark brown furrows in the land while eagle-eyed judges cast their votes on the colourful field of characters taking part in the competitions who take great pride in their skill and professionalism and pay minute attention to detail on every turn of soil they fold.
Sue, aged 73, who has seen many competitions over the years, said of her retirement: “It has been a tremendous privilege and honour to serve as ploughing match secretary. My father was a farmer and wanted me to be secretary and I’ve loved it. Supporting the farming community was my way of saying “thank you” to them for serving us with food.”
As the seasons change Sue will still be very busy despite her retirement.
“I will help the agricultural society in any capacity and next year I’ll be on car park duty. I’m also secretary of Henley Christmas Lights Committee so that’s going to keep us all busy very soon,” Sue said.
