e Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association is responsible for the delivery of the Royal Norfolk Show, the largest two-day county show in the UK.

This year, the theme was ‘Young Achievers’, and highlighted education and learning, as well as celebrated young people in a Grand Ring parade.

Approximately 12,000 youngsters from schools, colleges and home-schooling across the region attended the Show as an educational activity.

Headlines

Here are some of the headline stats from this years royal norfolk show:

12,000+ home educated and school students
11, 988 booked to attend, of which
1,083 were home educated, an increase of 158 from 2023
130 schools, 180 bookings
22% of which were Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) providers
51 bookings were for school groups performing on the Norfolk Music Hub stages
69 exhibitors
100% Net Promoter Score

So, what was on?

What was on in the Discovery Zone

The Discovery Zone aims to showcase the links between science, technology, engineering maths and medicine (STEMM) with food, farming and the countryside, to teach children more about agriculture in their local area and where their food comes from. This year, Sugarbeet was in the spotlight, as the Discovery Zone showcased the growing journey of Sugarbeet from preparation of soil through to the lifting of the beet during harvest.

Goals:

Highlight the production of Sugarbeet, grown locally, and aid learning around local food production
Demonstrate the sustainable practices that local growers use
Generate enthusiasm for British Sugar and highlight the important role sugar plays in our diet

Attendees could learn about the growing process through interactive stands representing the harvest trail, demonstrating how:

Soil and harvests are protected using cover crops
The growth process relates to photosynthesis and solar panels
Crops can be affected by diseases and viruses, as well as bugs like Aphids
After harvesting, the Sugarbeet becomes products and by-products we all recognise such as Silver Spoon sugar cubes
And how sugar is linked to energy, and what activities are required to burn just one cube of sugar.

Also in the Discovery Zone was Thornage Hall, an independent north Norfolk based charity that provides supported living, learning and working for adults with learning disabilities. Thornage Hall discussed the importance of healthy soils and the wildlife on their bio-dynamic farm.

They also provided for us Hannah and Hubert, a Red Poll x Beef Shorthorn cow and her Red Poll bullock calf, to highlight how some of the waste from Sugarbeet is turned into Beet Pellets, part of a healthy balanced diet for cattle feed.

Hannah and Hubert were a fantastic feature and hugely popular with students and adults alike! The Agri-Science marquee included stands from John Innes Center, PfBio, Norfolk FWAG, and VF Agriculture amongst others, showcasing some of the brilliant innovations that STEMM practitioners are contributing towards agriculture.

What was on in the STEMM Village

The STEMM Village aims to showcase the wide range of applications for science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) within various industries, as well as showcasing how STEMM is helping to address global challenges. Under the theme Sustainable Futures, the Village showcased how advances in the Eastern region are helping to address global challenges, with a particular focus on sustainable solutions and aligning with the Show’s theme of ‘Young Achievers.’ Sixty-seven individual exhibitors from academia, public and private sectors, delivered a dynamic and interactive experience to educate, inspire, and entertain visitors. Cutting-edge technology and research was engagingly presented alongside information on training pathways to support the next generation into skilled careers. Youth engagement was a central focus, with exhibits managed by students from City of Norwich School, Sir John Leman High School, East Norfolk Sixth Form College, and The Wensum Trust group of schools. The Youth STEMM Award exhibit, managed by young people, provided a platform for students to showcase their projects and inspire peers.