The Great Yorkshire Show welcomed record crowds as its 167th event opened yesterday (Tuesday).
A record 150,000 people are expected to attend this year's four-day event, which continues until Friday at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.
Among Tuesday's celebrity guests were TV stars Kelvin and Liz Fletcher, who appeared on the Ariat GYS Stage with presenter Christine Talbot to discuss life on their family farm, made famous in the ITV series Fletchers on the Farm.
The pair also visited the Woodcraft section, which has attracted a record 436 entries this year, trying their hand at spoon carving before presenting prizes in the sheep rings.
The Show is hosting two national livestock championships this year, with the Zwartbles National Championship taking place on the opening day.
The title went to a shearling ewe owned by Mrs H Jackson from Dumfries, while Peter and Susanne Addison from County Durham claimed the reserve championship.
Elsewhere, Harden Clough Nursery from Bolton-by-Bowland won the Doncaster Cup for Best in Show at the Garden Show after also securing a Gold Medal and Best Nursery.
The opening day also saw the launch of a brand-new carnivorous plant, Sarracenia 'Yorkshire Sunset', developed over the past 15 years by Wacks Wicked Plants at its Malton nursery.
Nearly 500 birds competed in the pigeon section, where Sean Morrow from Durham claimed the Supreme Pigeon title with his four-year-old English Long Faced Tumbler hen.
Sean, who keeps around 800 fancy pigeons, said it was only the second time he had won the title in 40 years of exhibiting at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Innovation was another major focus, with Bennamann winning the Overall Innovation Award for its technology that converts farm-produced biogas into transport-grade biomethane fuel.
Meanwhile, Lely Center Longtown was named Best Agricultural Trade Stand for its robotic farming solutions.
The RABI/Yorkshire Agricultural Society Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Yorkshire farmer, educator and online advocate Tom Carlisle, better known as The Dales Farmer, in recognition of his work promoting modern farming to a wider audience.
Eight long-serving stewards and supporters were also recognised for their contribution to the Show, including official photographer Kate Mallender, who is marking her 34th year capturing the event.
Rachel Coates, Show Director, said:
"We have had a tremendous start to the Show, with so much for visitors to see and experience.
"We have enjoyed seeing our first winners crowned in classes for everything from pigeons to pigs and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors again tomorrow and for the rest of the week."
The Great Yorkshire Show continues until Friday, with around 8,500 animals competing across the four days.
Free shuttle buses continue to operate between Harrogate Bus Station and the Showground every 10 minutes throughout the event.
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