Melton Fatstock Dinner 2024
The 72nd Melton & Belvoir Agricultural Society (MBAS) Fatstock Show, Sale and Dinner took place on Saturday 7th December. Pictures here are from the celebratory dinner attended by local farmers and agricultural supporters from around the region, including guests of honour the Mayor of the Borough of Melton, Tim Webster and his wife Sally-Anne.
With gale force winds and rain, there were some challenges for those attending, but despite the weather there were more entries than last year across both Livestock - Cattle, Sheep, Pigs and Goats; and Produce – Cheese, Pork Pies, Sausages, Pastries, Home Baking, Junior Baking and Preserves; for the judges to consider. Once the judging was complete, the Champions were presented with their trophies.
The event was a huge success, selling stock for £171,819 with almost £9,500 raised for good causes. Charities supported included the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and the Mayor’s charities ProstAid and The Belvoir Cricket & Countryside Trust.
Champion Beast, the biggest prize in the show, was again sponsored by Shoby Priory Agricultural Ltd. It was won by C. & G. Davies of Gaddesby, with a British Blue Cross Heifer, grossing a Melton Market and Melton Fatstock record of an incredible £16,600 in a thrilling auction and selling to The Bell Hotel at Winslow. We believe this to be a National record for Prime Cattle. Charlotte and Georgia Davies were presented with The Brownlow Challenge Cup and a £500 prize.
292 guests gathered for the evening’s Dinner & Dance, held in the Banqueting Suite of The Stockyard at Melton Mowbray Market, where the Championship Cups were presented and guests enjoyed a delicious five-course dinner catered by Zest Catering and featuring locally-sourced beef supplied by Ralph Pearson Wholesale Butchers and Stilton donated by Long Clawson Dairy. A charity auction was held, with prizes including a handmade quilt, a Long Clawson Christmas cheeseboard, a model Claas tractor and tickets for Glorious Goodwood Racecourse on Ladies Day and The Festival of Speed, which raised over £2,300, with proceeds going to the Mayor’s charities. Other fundraising on the night raised over £1,000, which will be split between the Mayor’s charities and MBAS.
After dinner, speeches, prize giving and the auction, another 40 guests joined the party and brilliant local party band The Real Monsters filled the dancefloor late into the night.
The committee of MBAS would like to thank their Sponsors, as well as the judges, entrants, Market staff and volunteers for making it another highly successful Show.
