Duncan Gray eighth family member to lead north-east Scotland’s flagship Turriff Show

Local Aberdeenshire Farmer and employee of Duncan Farms, Duncan Gray, will become the eighth family member to serve as Turriff Show President. 

“It is a great honour to stand as the President of Turriff show this year, and is a role held by many generations on both sides of my family. 

"Having never missed a show, I see firsthand, the dedication from our local community to make this prestigious event a vibrant gathering for businesses, farmers, local communities, and visitors from afar. It stands as Scotland’s largest two-day agricultural show, thanks to the commitment, loyalty and community spirit of the people involved who build it year after year," Duncan told That's Food and Drink.

“I'm delighted to have Duncan Farms Ltd as this year's Main Sponsor.  I have been part of their team for 24 years, alongside running our family farm. 

"I really appreciate the support received over the past few years. Their decision to sponsor this year's show further demonstrates the community support around myself and the show.” 

Established in 2011 and based in Aberdeenshire, Duncan Farms is a family-run business producing sustainable, traceable, quality eggs, from their free-range hens.  

Now preparing for its 162nd year, Turriff Show will take place on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd August 2026 and promises two unforgettable days filled with the opportunity to experience the very best of Scottish agriculture.  

Recognised for its celebration of local food, farming and equestrian talent, the event continues to welcome around 24,000 visitors each year. 

Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to bring people together from all backgrounds to enjoy its impressive livestock competitions, trade stands and exceptional local food and drink producers. 

An entertaining ‘tractor football’ match will take place in the main ring on the Sunday, and on the second day visitors will see the return of “The March of Time”, which was last held in 2014 and said to be “a captivating procession of agricultural machinery from through the ages” offering a real-life current-time travelling journey through farming history. 

Show Co-ordinator, Debbie Mackie, serving her first year in the role, shared her excitement with our rewders: “I’m thrilled to be appointed to this role. While my family and I have been involved for many years, I will now be responsible for supporting the Presidential team and the committee and carrying out additional administrative duties in the preparing and running of the Turriff Show.” 

“This year we’ve got an exciting headline act joining the main stage of our Marquee Dance. This ever-popular party evening is on Friday 31st July, featuring live music from one of Scotland’s most exciting and sought-after live acts, Scottish singer-songwriter Cammy Barnes who will bring the night to life with his contemporary country and Scottish music. Demand is already high, so we’d recommend booking as soon as you can if you want to come along. 

“Monday of the show will host the Blue Texel National Sheep Show in the sheep area which can be located on the map visitors will receive as they enter the grounds, so we are expecting a turnout of top-quality pedigree sheep from across Scotland and the rest of the UK.” 

Turriff Show remains renowned for its impressive £88,000 exhibitor prize fund, over 330 trophies, and 1,554 competition classes. These span everything from award-winning cattle, sheep, horses, working dogs, pigeons, and vintage vehicles, as well as home-baking, vegetable growing and floristry, celebrating the full breadth of Scottish agriculture and rural life.  

Visitors can take their time wandering through the 300+ exhibitor stands comprising of local businesses, food and drink makers, and talented arts and crafts creators from across Aberdeenshire and beyond.  

Ladies’ Day continues to be a highlight of the local social calendar, this year’s “The Show Must Go On” will be being held on Sunday 26th July in the Turriff Show Marquee. Tickets went live earlier this month and sold out within minutes. The day, now in its seventh year, will raise money for Friends of Neuro Ward and the Scottish chairty Air Ambulance. 

Debbie concludes: “If you haven’t been to Turriff Show before, make this year the one you try something different at the show; there is so much to explore. Our Facebook and Instagram pages are highlighting 100 reasons to come to Turriff Show, so you’ll be able to see that there’s plenty to do and plan ahead.”  

With hundreds of attractions and experiences on offer, Turriff Show 2026 promises something for everyone to enjoy.  

For updates and more information, follow Turriff Show on social media:  

Turriff Show will take place Sunday 2 and Monday 3 August 2026 at the Haughs, Queen’s Road, Turriff, AB53 4EF.

Turriff Show is a registered charity, first established in 1864 and is now the biggest two-day agricultural show in Scotland, attracting around 24,000 visitors annually  

Turriff Show offers over £88,000 worth of prize money and have over 1,500 exhibitor classes 

In 2026 the show will host the Scottish Blue Texel National Show.

https://www.turriffshow.org

Primary School kids grow tatties for Turriff Show

On Friday 26th May, former Turriff Show President and farmer, Graeme Mackie, from Little Hilton Farm, visited Monquhitter Primary School and met pupils from the school’s Friday Eco-group to plant potatoes, locally known in the Doric as tatties, in time to harvest at 2023’s two-day northeast Turriff agricultural Show.

These tatties will be harvested on both days of the show and will be employed to create delicious dishes by Chef, Catriona Frankitti. Catriona will be the host to the Chefs and Scottish produce in Turriff Show’s cookery theatre this year, as part of the EQ Food and Drink marquee exhibition.   

Graeme Mackie said of the children's project, “Rolling up their sleeves to plant, care for and watch their food grow gives the children involved a real sense of pride in their work and an enhanced appreciation for the food on their plates. Being actively involved in growing food, demonstrates the work and time farmers put into yielding a crop, making food all that more valuable.”  

Monquhitter Primary School already has its own polytunnel growing an abundance of produce,  strawberries, mixed salad leaves, onions, carrots, peas, broad beans, and radishes. Every year-group oversees a raised bed and together, parents, teachers and students get involved in ‘plant care’.  

Primary Teacher Miss Garven says, “Sustainability is a huge part of our curriculum. Many students learn by doing rather than watching. Growing food of their own motivates children to be more aware of the benefits of eating nutritious foods and encourages them to eat a fruit or vegetable that they may not have ever tried before.” 

Gathered outside the school polytunnel, the young boys and girls were eager to get started, with trowels at the ready, as Mr Mackie gave an enlightening talk on the planting and harvesting of the tatties.  

“What we are planting here today is a variety of tatties named ‘Charlotte’ a salad type with a buttery flavour and versatility for many meals. These potatoes will be ready to harvest in two and a half to three months, in time for this year’s Turriff Show,” explained Mr Mackie.  

The group of students got straight to work, carting soil from the trailer and into their individual tubs. Recycling empty livestock feed and mineral tubs, Mr Mackie, and the team of young learners, planted the potatoes and carefully levelled off the soil.  

Mr Mackie exclaimed, “Some children head to the supermarket with mum and dad and that’s where they believe food comes from. It's vitally important for all those involved in agriculture to pass on their knowledge to the younger generation. We are responsible for filling that missing link between farm and supermarket.”  

The children helped to carry the tubs back into the trailer. They gave Mr Mackie a tour of the Polytunnel and raised beds. The school pupils explained to Mr Mackie that once the produce was ready to be harvested, they would dig it up and hand it to the school kitchen to prepare and be used for school dinners. 

The children all hope to attend this year’s Turriff Show to take delight in witnessing their tatties being harvested and prepped into a wholesome meal. 

Join EQ Chartered Accountants at Turriff Show 2023

Turriff Show’s wholesome and exciting EQ Food and Drink pavilion, sponsored by EQ Chartered Accountants, will be the heart to some of the finest Scottish local food and drink producers in the region. This year the pavilion has been extended to welcome in excess of 40 local exhibitors showcasing local meats, chutneys, fruit and veg, home bakes, ice-cream, sweets, honey, jams, spirits, cider and cocktails. 

Special favourites like Wark Farm pies, bacon from Ingrams, yummy granola from Bakery Lane to yoghurt from Rora dairy and Ogilvy spirits, will be there to savour their delectable local produce. 

Also, the pavilion welcomes once again, the popular Portsoy Ice Cream; the shop's owner, Alex Murray, says: “We'll be at Turriff Show both of the days in the EQ Food and Drink Marquee. I'm really looking forward to this year after all the fun of the 2022 show. It's always really wonderful to meet faces from all walks of life who come together to show an interest in today’s agriculture,” says Alex.  

Portsoy Ice-Cream is a popular family operated business, which is famous for its wide variety of ice creams, sauces and other sweet treats. With over 100 tempting ice cream flavours, Alex strives to source many of his ingredients from local food and drink suppliers, with fruit from Barra berries and whisky from the Glenglassaugh distillery. 

There will be prizes on offer for showgoers in the EQ Food and Drink Pavilion, including a draw for a super Broil King BBQ, available to everyone who makes a purchase from a food and drink stall in the EQ Food and Drink pavilion.  

The QMS cookery theatre will return with fabulous food expert and chef, Catriona Frankitti who'll be sharing stories and recipes, whilst cooking up delicious meals, using only local produce. 

The EQ Food and Drink Pavilion will also host, ‘The Kilted Chef’, Craig Wilson of Eat on the Green, an ambassador for Scottish food and drink, who will demonstrate his fabulous cooking. The pavilion will also be visited on both days by the North East’s popular fish expert Jimmy Buchan of Amity and Trawlermen TV programme, who will be spreading the word about top quality local fish, whilst cooking up a fishy dishy. 

Local butchers will be giving interesting butchery demonstrations and showing why beef and lamb from the north east really is something special.  

Whilst watching demonstrations, visitors can also enjoy some really tasty homemade tray bakes, pancakes and much more besides, from Hoodles coffee shop, located within the EQ Food and Drink Pavilion and open to all. 

A spokeswoman for EQ said: "Come join us for a taste or tipple of local produce, be entertained and inspired by amazing stories and experience the diversity of food and drink produced locally to Turriff."

To learn more please visit https://www.turriffshow.org