Dairy Event(s) Impasse

There will be two national dairyevents in September 2017 after the organisers of the events failed to agree to hold a merged show.  The RABDF will run the ‘National Dairy Event’ on the 6^th September at the NEC.  This is a rebrand of the Livestock Event and a return to the traditional autumn timeslot of the old Dairy Event, albeit as a single-day event.  Meanwhile, Holstein UK will host the ‘UK Dairy Day’ at Telford on the 14^th September.  This show was set up when the Dairy Event moved from the autumn to early summer.  (Just to add to the multitude of events, the well-attended South West Dairy Show is at Shepton Mallet on the 4^th October 2017.)  It was Holstein UK that finally pulled the plug on a joint event – citing a number of concerns around the RABDF’s finances and plans for the show – subsequently refuted by the RABDF.  It seems a sad state of affairs that the two organisations have failed to come to an agreement.  Many exhibitors and attendees could simply walk away from both shows until a ‘winner’ emerges.  The Chief Executive of the RABDF, Nick Everington, announced his retirement after 15 years on the same day that the failure to agree a joint show was made.