Organisers are delighted after receiving their biggest ever number of sheep entries, with farmers and smallholders rushing to sign up hundreds of animals, including rare and primitive breeds, in a bid to win championship trophies.

Dorset County Show (3-4 September) has set a new record, with 825 sheep competing across 25 classes. Secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘We’re so delighted that farming in Dorset is holding up so well during the recession. We’ve also received the biggest ever number of pig entries. Over 100 pigs, including lots of the popular kune-kune breed, have been entered into the classes this year. We also have a really strong entry for cattle – entries this year are nudging towards the 300 mark, with 52 Devon cattle entries.’

Committees that organise other agricultural shows in the county are also reporting a record-breaking year for livestock entries, particularly in the sheep classes.

Melplash Show (25 August) says numbers are up on last year. Secretary, Lucy Hart, said: ‘Sheep entries have gone mad, with some really good rare and primitive breeds. We’ve got Shetlands, North Ronaldsays, Manx Loaghtan, Hebridean, Wensleydale and Dartmoors, as well as a lovely selection of rare and very strong texels.’

Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show (17 August) also reports a significant rise in sheep entries. Secretary, Sam Braddick, said: ‘Our sheep entries have been going up every year, but for 2011 we have got 50 or 60 more than usual – that’s a rise of 15%.’

The National Union of Farmers (NFU) has described the trend as ‘the Adam Henson’ effect, with the farmer’s co-presenting job on Countryfile now pulling in higher viewing figures than Eastenders.

Chairman of the Dorset NFU, Robert Lasseter, said: ‘The record entries for livestock classes across the board at our three agricultural shows in Dorset is really exciting.  It’s evidence of more interest in agriculture generally, and in particular, where our food comes from. 

‘It shows Dorset’s farming community pulling together.  There are more smallholders, many with rare breeds of livestock, all taking an interest.  It’s also evidence that farming is a fulfilling way of life, and agriculture offers lots of varied and rewarding careers.  Our three shows in the county are our showcase for everything agricultural, so they are definitely the place to go if you want to know more and get involved!’

He added: ‘There is also the ‘Adam Henson effect’ – he has brought celebrity to farming in the way that Jamie Oliver brought celebrity to food.  Adam is so enthusiastic, tells it like it is and has a brilliant way of explaining complex issues in simple terms we all ‘get’.  He makes Countryfile compelling viewing, because he calls a spade a spade.’

The Dorset County Show is the biggest and best two-day event in the South West’s farming calendar. Favourite categories in the sheep classes include sheep shearing and the children’s novelty classes for friendliest pet lamb or ewe, the woolliest pet lamb or ewe, and fancy dress for both sheep and handler.

A brilliant attraction for this year will be ‘The Sheep Show’, a humorous educational live stage show about sheep and wool. The sheep even show the audience a dance step or two! The act gives a real insight to how the wool from a sheep’s back becomes a jumper.