THE Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has announced that livestock and equine competition entries for the 2022 Smallholding and Countryside Festival are now open, and schedules are available on the website.

All competition entries for the festival can now be completed online via the entry portal on the website. There is information on how to enter and a handy video guide to help exhibitors with the online entry system. Entries opened today (March) at 10am and close on Monday, April 4, at 5pm.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22, the Smallholding and Countryside Festival will return to the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd for the first time since 2019. “We hope our exhibitors are looking forward to competing once again,” said the RWAS.

“The weekend-long event is a celebration of rural life with smallholding pursuits at its heart. A great day out for families, smallholders, garden enthusiasts and countryside dwellers, the festival has something for everyone to enjoy.

“This year’s event will be packed full of hotly contested competitions with competitors coming from far and wide in the hope of taking home a much sought-after title and rosette. Not only could you be adding a prize card to your collection, but thanks to the continued support from our sponsors, you could also benefit from the vast array of prize money, vouchers and special mementos up for grabs.”

Honorary festival director Geraint James said: “It gives me great pleasure in welcoming exhibitors from all sections back to the showground since their last visit in 2019, or if it is your first time in competing at the festival.

“I hope that you will all enjoy the feel-good experience at Llanelwedd.

“Despite major advances in the world of technology I would like to inform those exhibitors who possibly haven’t got the connectivity, or aren’t experienced with a computer, that paper copy schedules are available on request from the RWAS office.

“Our staff are here to help, and I hope that fellow exhibitors who are more used to these online systems will help those less familiar with the entry system.

“Once again, we have a varied and full two days of competitions and entertainment to suit all ages, together with lots of opportunities to observe, listen and learn new ideas and experiences.”

The livestock schedule is now available to view on the website. With over 400 classes and special awards for sheep, pigs, goats and cattle, many of which are for traditional, rare and native breeds, there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved.

There is a variety of new sections at this year’s festival, including classes for a new stand-alone Blue Texel Section, a Boer Goat Section, Dairy Cattle Youngstock and Dairy Young Handler Sections.

This year’s equine schedule features over 130 classes and is also now available on the site. In addition to show jumping, working hunters, heavy horses, foreign and rare breeds and young handler sections, the event will host the CHAPS Mid Welsh Regional Show, classes for the British Miniature Horse Society, Donkey Breed Society and the Veteran Horse Society Area qualifier. Other qualifiers include the Moorbennhall Youngstock Challenge, the Classical Ladies Side Saddle qualifier, the British Arabian Championships and, new for 2022, a class for the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association qualifier.

Premier Open Dog Show entries are also now open for the 2023 Crufts Qualifier where rosettes, prize money and quality pet food are all up for grabs for the winning canines. Postal entries close on Monday, April 11, and online entries close on Tuesday, May 3.

The festival will once again host the woolhandling competitions which take place on Sunday, May 22. Entries are set to open soon and will close on Friday, April 29.

Along with all the competitions, the smallholders centre and country life area will again be open where visitors can gain useful advice on all things smallholding related. You can expect delicious food and drink from the food hall or grab a tasty treat in the street food area. With exciting main ring displays, interesting tradestands and family fun activities, the festival is the perfect day out for all.

Tickets are now available from the RWAS website. An adult day ticket costs £16, children are £5 and under 5’s go free.

To enter or view the festival competition schedules, visit www.rwas.wales.