FOR the last few years, the pig section at the Smallholder and Garden Festival has been housed in the Showground's Fur and Feather Building and has proved to be very successful. At this year's show - on May 19 and 20 - it is again in the same building and we aim to continue the successful trend.

One of the many excellent aspects of this event is the number of people new to pig-keeping that this show attracts. The members of the Wales and Border Counties Pig Breeders Association are kept very busy talking to the many people requiring information on every aspect of pig keeping, and many of these will be successfully showing their own pigs within 12 to 18 months at numerous shows throughout the region. One pig keeper, who started with two weaners two years ago, now has seven sows of two different traditional old breeds and has completed several courses for carcass cutting, sausage making, bacon, etc, and is now going through the planning stages of his own processing room, as well as having a very successful year at the various shows attended. This is just one of the many success stories in the section.

This year at the Festival, the showing starts earlier at 9am and is the start of a full programme for the two days, with various activities and events taking place in the ring at all times. The show starts with the Welsh Breed classes. This is the first year for the staging of breed classes at this show and is a success story in its own right. A few years ago, the Welsh breed was in danger of dying out and thanks to dedicated breeders, they are now producing sufficient quality pigs to hold their own classes. These will be followed by the classes for any other breed and then the pork classes. We are pleased to have Mr Kevin Matthews, from Scarborough, Yorkshire, as our judge this year. Mr Matthews is well-known and respected in this area and judged the pig classes at the Royal Welsh Show in 2005.

On Sunday, May 20, at the Festival, by popular demand, we will be holding another version of last year's educational look at "The History of the Pig" when we shall present an exhibition of the evolution of our pigs from the wild boar to the most modern breeds. The breeds evolved under different circumstances and at different times, sometimes in small local areas. These will be represented by the handlers in appropriate costumes.

A new attraction on Saturday at approximately 4pm and on Sunday at 2.30 -3.30pm will be the Pig Agility Class, when exhibitors may compete, against the clock, to demonstrate their pig handling skills over an obstacle course. After that, there will be an opportunity for some enthusiastic youngsters to "have a go" under supervision.

There will be advice and "piggy" merchandise at the Association stand throughout the weekend, so do search out the Pig Pavilion where there will be fun and education for the whole family, together with a warm welcome from Association members and stewards. We will be pleased to meet old friends and make new ones.