Each year, the Royal Welsh Show has a different host or feature county - this concept has its origins in the early history of the show when it was a moveable event visiting each of the 13 old counties in turn (writes Meyrick Brown).

Since the move to the permanent home at Llanelwedd in Radnorshire over 50 years ago, the counties still take it in turn to be the feature county and this year it is the turn of Carmarthenshire.

In doing so, the county appoints the president and lady ambassador for the show and takes a prominent role over the period of the three shows held during the year. Over the past 12-18 months, the county has been engaged in a truly amazing fundraising effort with area committees organising a huge variety of events, big and small, to promote the society and it’s sterling work - over the years some of the society’s most notable improvements have been raised by the hard working committees in the particular feature counties.

For Brian Jones, managing director of Castell Howell Foods, a passionate Welshman, born and brought up in the agricultural industry and having taken an active role in the Young Farmers movement, he says being elected president of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is the greatest honour that he could have been awarded.

“I would like to thank the good people of Carmarthenshire for the privilege of being president in our year as the feature county in 2017. I assure you that I will do everything to repay the faith you have shown in me.

“Diversifying from dairy farming and rearing table chickens to establishing a food service business, distributing a wide range of food products to caterers and businesses across Wales and the fringes of England, has given me a very different perspective on the agricultural industry,” he added.

Farming continues to be the cornerstone of the £6.1 billion Welsh food and drink supply chain and agriculture has been at the heart of Welsh life for centuries and contributes so much to the rural economy, both directly and indirectly.

A thriving agricultural industry is paramount to the rural economy and way of life with 58,000 people employed, either full or part-time, on Welsh farms - two out of five rural businesses depend entirely on agriculture and the future survival of the Welsh rural economies is dependent on being able to retain our young people in the countryside.

Rural life has always been challenging and agriculture subject to the vagaries of government policy, rules, regulations and those of supply and demand. These regulations have often caused consternation and frustration but they, however, ensure that the food we produce is of the highest standard both in terms of welfare and traceability.

The Royal Welsh Show established itself is a predominantly agricultural event for the farming industry, but it is, nevertheless, more important than ever that it is seen across the world to promote all that is best in home produce, with no better way than using the Royal Welsh Show as a shop window and also to strengthen our cultural heritage and galvanise the pride we have in our small nation.

It is planned that the substantial funds raised by Carmarthenshire will be used to provide new and improved stabling for the equine section.

Brian Jones says: “I would like to thank the fabulous Carmarthenshire team consisting of seven county regions, the YFC, ladies committee, Carmarthenshire County Council and various societies and individuals for their tireless dedication and work in leading and co-ordinating the fundraising throughout the county. Their efforts have brought communities together, rekindled friendships and brought entertainment and joy to people and I’m hoping for a record attendance next week.”

Finally, Brian told me last week: “The horticulture marquee is already up and it is a whooper! In fact, it is one of the biggest marquees in the UK.”