WE MAY not have had much of a July to shout about weather-wise, but there are some Dales folk praying diligently to the weather gods that August and September bring at least some sunshine.

For the organisers of the various shows coming up over the next few weeks are desperate to see climatic conditions that will enable them to showcase the variety of the Dales in its best bib-and-tucker.

Preparations for the annual agricultural shows have been going on for many months - work starts just days after the last one in some cases.

So it's not surprising that organisers want to make the most of events that are among the highlights of the summer for Dales folk.

Gargrave, Malham, Kilnsey, Bentham and Horton-in-Ribblesdale all have shows in the next few weeks.

And they all have their roots in 19th century 'field days', celebrations of rural life and rural communities, and the skills needed to make a living from agriculture.

Many 'field days' gradually came to lose some of their agricultural character to become community celebrations.

Not in the Dales though. Farming - especially of sheep and cattle, and skills such as ploughing - and trade displays of farming machinery are still central to the appeal of the show.

Kilnsey Show, for example, which is on Tuesday, September 1, is in its 118th year and is one of the Dales' most typical events.

It is organised by the Upper Wharfedale Agricultural Society and is one of the best-known showcases for farming and rural life, as well as a showcase for the various crafts that are fundamental to rural living.

Thousands of visitors from across the north of England are expected, not least because Kilnsey features 400 individual show classes with 80 trophies, and is offering £17,000 in prize money.

And £7,000 of this is up for grabs in the multi-breed sheep and cattle livestock classes, which have always been central to the success of the event.

Making a return this year is the Sheep Show, sponsored by the NFU, while there will also be horses on parade in the main arena throughout the day.

There are show classes for Shires, working hunters, mountain and moorland, and ridden horse classes, plus local riding competitions. A full harness racing programme, with trackside bookmakers, takes places towards the latter end of the day.

There is also a gundogs display, with labradors being put through their paces for the first time, while the Fire Brigade will be hotting things up with their own display.

A central part of most rural shows is local produce and Kilnsey will be putting the focus firmly on promoting the foods of the Dales.

Leading local chefs will be giving cookery demonstrations in the Cookery Theatre. The Northern Dales Farmers Market will be setting up its stall also.

Dry stone walling, sheep dog trials, vintage tractors, produce, handicrafts and horticulture are also featured on the agenda.

Some shows are feature a sports element, and Kilnsey is no exception. Its well-known fell races, against the backdrop of the famous Kilnsey Crag, again takes place this year, while there are plans to reintroduce on-field track events, say organisers.

At Gargrave Show, which takes place on Saturday, August 22, the emphasis is on sheep and horses - and 'bale-pushing!'

The event gets off to an equine start with judging of working and ridden hunters and Shetland ponies.

And for the first time this year's show features a 'ridden Shire horse' judging class as well as the usual Shire horse judging.

Show secretary Sue Brown says: "The ridden Shire horse is a new class for Gargrave and as far as we know there is no one else doing it in our part of the Dales. There is sure to be a lot of interest as Shire horses are very popular.

"Competitive bale-pushing around the ring is also new and is bound to prove popular too, though we don't know exactly how it will work on the day until we see who has entered!"

The show also features junior sheep handling and tug-of-war contests, as well as a parade of vintage cars and classic tractors, and fell races.

Malham Show has been held in the shadow of Malham Cove - now famous across the world after featuring in the Harry Potter series of films - for decades, and this year takes place on Saturday, August 29.

Featured are a heavy horse championship, showjumping and 'working hunter' classes, as well as a whippet show and falconry display, plus a mountain bike stunt display and vintage vehicles, plus a 'Trailquest' mountain bike orienteering event

And for shoppers there's a farmer's market, plus handicrafts, horticultural and floral exhibits.

Other dates for the Dales diarist are Bentham Show, on Saturday September 5 and Horton-in-Ribblesdale Show, also on September 5.