The historic Gravesend and Rochester Agricultural Association Ploughing Match returns for another year

Breathe in that fresh countryside air and cheer on local farmers as they heave their way across the field in an annual ploughing match that’s been going for almost 200 years.

The Gravesend and Rochester Agricultural Association Ploughing Match sees the traditional contest take place, as well as a series of rural competitions where local farmhands will show off their skills.

Experts will compete in everything from harvest competitions to outdoor craft-making and cooking and traders will be selling the farmers’ fresh produce from their stalls.

There will also be a pop-up pub (named the Ploughman’s Arms), steam and horsepower displays, gun dog shows and a dog derby, stunts in the show ring, birds of prey and laser clay shooting.

The ploughing match is one of Kent’s oldest agricultural events, dating all the way back to 1834.

Over a century ago, the GRAA was formed after a group of local landowners gathered to discuss the struggling farming industry.

The GRAA is believed to be the second oldest ploughing association left in the UK and began as a way to encourage farm workers to stay on the land by offering competitions and prizes, such as the ploughing match.

The earliest prizes included £3 for the shepherd who could rear the most lambs and £2 for the best hop drier. After one of the matches in 1849, it was noted in the minutes of a committee meeting that the members packed up and went for a meal in The Crown (now named the Royal Crown) in Rochester.

Fortunes improved for the agricultural industry in the 19th century and, as a result, more competitions were introduced by the association. This time, it wasn’t just workers who were getting involved - employers were also encouraged to improve standards with the promise of monetary rewards for the best crops and farming practices.

The match has only had two breaks in its whole history. The first was in 1915 when the First World War forced the GRAA to put the event on hold for four years.

The matches also stopped between 1939 and 1946 and, by the time the event started up again, horse ploughing was dying out due to the machinery developed during WWII.

Today, the match combines modern tractors with vintage vehicles and horse-ploughing displays to bring together the rich history of the festival.

The Gravesend and Rochester Ploughing Match takes place on Saturday, September 14 at North End Farm in Southfleet, near Gravesend. Book tickets online here.

Tickets cost £10 per car.