A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for a brilliant evening celebrating the upcoming Antrim Show, and particularly the Home Industries & Horticulture Section.

A special shout-out to Rural Support for coming along and sharing invaluable information about their incredible ‘Plough On’ initiative. The stories of its positive impact on our rural community were truly inspiring and a powerful reminder of the support available .

We want to extend our sincere gratitude to our wonderful Home Industries & Horticulture sponsors this year:

• Apperley’s
• BCCU
• Ballygarvey Eggs
• B Craig & Co Ballyclare
• Coleman’s Garden Centre Templepatrick
• The Barn at Country Cake Designs
• Desi Mills Agricultural Engineer
• JR Frew Accountants
• McKervill Neilly Solicitors
• Randalstown Dental Clinic
• S.E McKay & Son Ltd
• Stephen Caldwell Photography
• William G Crawford Joinery Ltd
• Woodbank House Vintage Tearoom

A special word of thanks also to our dedicated Home Industries Stewards for their hard work and commitment. Your support makes nights like these, and the Show itself, possible.

We also unveiled the Helen Bonar Memorial Cup on the evening in memory of the late Helen Bonar who was a devoted Steward of the Home Industries & Horticulture Section for many years before being called home last year. We were delighted that Helen’s Brother and Sister-in-law were able to join us for this.

Get ready to showcase your talents, as entries for Home Industries will be live on our website very soon. We can’t wait to see all of this year’s amazing bakes, cakes, and creations on Show Day.

At our Annual General Meeting the Office Bearers positions for the Society were re-elected for 2025/26:

🎖️ 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧 ~ Mrs Marlene Watt
🎖️ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 ~ Mr Wilbert Rankin
🎖️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 ~ Mr William Graham
🎖️ 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 ~ Mrs Rosemary McAllister

We also welcomed our new 2025/26 YFCU representatives from:

🚜 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 ~ Julieanne Moore
🚜 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 ~ Oisin Mcateer
🚜 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 ~ Laura Murray

Our Guest Speaker at the close of the evening was 𝐌𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐜𝐈𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐞𝐧 from the renowned BBC Show 𝐁&𝐁 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚, followed by supper which was kindly provided by our own Mrs Rosemary McAllister and her granddaughter Charlotte McAllister.
Congratulations to all who have taken up their positions, and thank you to our guest speaker and all who came along.

Randox Antrim Show’s Horticulture and Home Industries section hosted a 2023 reception for its section’s volunteers and sponsors in Kells the other month.

David Crawford, a director of Antrim Agricultural Society responsible for Horticulture and Home Industries said, “We are indebted to our supportive returning and new sponsors and stewards.”

During the evening, a new cup was presented by the Crawford family in memory of the late Jimmy Crawford, Patron of Antrim Agricultural Society’s Patron. The James Crawford Memorial Cup will be presented to the exhibitor of the best exhibit in the flower and pot plant section. At 2019’s Show, Jimmy won the Gardener of the Year Trophy at the age of 89.

Other examples of what’s new in the Home Industries and Horticulture section include:

• A new Needlework section for residents of Nursing & Residential Homes
• Other changes in the Needlework section means there are now 3 different classes for Crocheted Blankets.
• In the baking section there are some new classes for Ginger Cake, Flapjacks, Raspberry & White Choc scones and, back due to demand, the fat free sponge.
• An iPad pillow/stand class has been added to the YFC Craft section.

David added; “The theme for the Floral art classes is ‘Celebration’ to mark the 45^th Anniversary of the Antrim Flower arranging club; and this section of the Show always sees good interest in the keenly contested Women’s Institute Team competition where the theme this year is ‘Baby Shower.’

“Even though the show’s general entries have now closed, the one exception is that the Horticulture section’s entries can be taken up until this Friday (21 July) by calling our section on 075 2609 9966“.

You can get a copy of the full schedule of classes here on the website.

This year’s section sponsors include: SE McKay & Son Ltd (Oil & Fuel Products), JR Frew Accountants, McKervill Neilly Solicitors, Coleman’s Garden Centre, Apperley’s Butchers,  Ballygarvey Eggs, Ballymena, B Craigs, Ballyclare, Wilsons Fireplaces, Ballymena, WG Crawford Joinery, Antrim, Country Cake Designs, Antrim, and Stephen Caldwell, Photography.