HARVEST, CHAT, REPEAT: THE COUNTY SHOW RITUAL

Everyone knows it's a great family day out – but the County Show is also an important date in the agricultural year. Ben Best from C&O Tractors tells us why ...

The Dorset County Show, renowned for its brilliant entertainment and wide-ranging appeal, is always more than just a great day out – at its core, it remains a celebration of agriculture. Year after year, the show provides a unique opportunity to connect with the heart of the Dorset farming community. We spoke with Ben Best from C&O Tractors Ltd, one of the show’s longstanding supporters, about why the company returns to the show every year.

'For me, the Dorset County Show is not just a great weekend each year – it’s a tradition,' Ben says. 'It’s a brilliant time to catch up with friends and customers alike. The show has this wonderful way of bringing people together, creating a space where business and pleasure meet perfectly.'

Ben sees the show as a milestone in the agricultural calendar. 'For the business, it’s like the new school year,' he says. 'The harvest is done (hopefully!), and we have this brief interlude before autumn sowing begins. It’s the perfect time for us to enjoy a brief pause and to reconnect with our customers. Whether it’s a sit down over a cup of tea, or just a casual chat leaning on a tractor wheel, the show offers a relaxed environment where we can talk through plans for the coming quarters and seasons.'

But it’s not all business. For C&O Tractors, the show is also a chance to say ‘thank you’ to the customers who have supported them throughout the years. 'It’s a really nice way to show our appreciation,' Ben says. 'We get to meet every demographic – from livestock farmers exhibiting their animals to grain customers attending the show. And, of course, it’s an excellent opportunity for us to show off our latest machinery!'

The history of C&O Tractors’ connection with the Dorset County Show runs deep. 'Our roots in Dorset go back much further than C&O Tractors itself,' Ben says. 'Stanley Pond started trading as an agricultural merchant in Blandford in 1753. The company continuously traded in Dorset until 2000, when it was taken over by C&O. Stanley Pond Ltd was always at the County Show, and C&O have been at every one since 2000 – and we’ll be there this year too, for our 24th year.'

For businesses like C&O Tractors, the County Show is more than just a showcase – it’s a tradition, a reunion, and a celebration of the agricultural community that makes Dorset’s countryside so special. Whether you’re an industry professional, a local farmer, or simply someone who loves the rural way of life, the show is an unmissable experience – one that remembers the past, celebrates the present, and looks forward to the future.

Ben pauses, and adds: 'We wouldn’t dare miss it!'

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