by Alan Smith

Let the show begin! That's the new slogan for this year's relaunched Kent Show.

Organisers the Kent County Agricultural Society have promised a "different style and a different emphasis" with the focus turned back towards agriculture and away from the commercialism of recent years.

The Why Farming Matters section will be larger and relocated to the prime position by the main entrance, while the displays of vintage tractors and steam engines will also be expanded with a dedicated ring for displays.

The main cattle parade, missing from the show in recent years, will be reinstated. Farmers will get their own hospitality marquee to do business with suppliers.

There will be new seating around the Astor Ring and an additional horse ring.
A new attraction will be a 'village green', where traditional village skills, such as blacksmithing will be on display.

Society chairman George Jessel admitted that in the past there had been "too much emphasis on selling cars", but this year the society was determined to reach out to the farmer.

This would even extend to the on-site catering, with burger and chip vans giving way to stalls selling fresh, locally grown food.

Young farmers would be given particular emphasis, with larger displays. General manager David Goff said: "We are the only county that has school farms and we must support them."

Mr Jessel said: "We want to put over that agriculture is not just for the grey-hair brigade. There is a career in farming. We are as modern as IT. We want people to be proud of their role in farming."

In a key move to attract a broader audience, the show has launched a new website with links to the social networking sites, Bebo, U-Tube and Twitter, where it has taken out its own pages.

Acknowledging traffic problems experienced by show visitors in previous years, Mr Jessel said there will be a new arrangement with police this year and more stewards on site.

He said: "We will ensure that everyone can arrive and leave within a reasonable time-frame."

About 80,000 people attended last year, and this year the society is aiming for 90,000 or even 100,000.

Mr Jessel said: "We are still the biggest event in the county."