A FARMING extravaganza delighted visitors from across the country for a special show.

The Ulverston and North Lonsdale Show returned to Urswick today as it overcame persistent rain and grey skies to entertain crowds.

Bringing together large farmyard animals with outdoor crafts and everyday pets, the day showcased the best and brightest of the industry.

Rachael Millard, of Old Hyton Farm, Bootle, alongside husband Ian and son Thomas, watched daughter Charisse take part in the cattle competitions.

She said: "We're really happy because an awful lot of work goes into events like this, but it's all paid off today.

"These events are great for the farming industry but it's also good for ourselves to show our stock and it's good for our reputation."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At a very wet Ulverston and North Lonsdale show today <a href="https://t.co/GrK5okjIan">pic.twitter.com/GrK5okjIan</a></p>— Reece Hanson (@rhansonNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/rhansonNWEM/status/890152175158132736">26 July 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The show's early hours were blighted with rain, sending many of the spectators running for cover.

One such refuge included the vast rabbit tent, with a wide variety of furry friends there to see.

Sandra Grainger, travelled to Urswick from Cleveland, Middlesbrough to take part in the show for the first time, winning her rabbit winning best in show.

She said: "It's been a lovely day and we've enjoyed it. We've had quite a lot of people coming round to enjoy the various breeds.

"They seem to be quite shocked to find rabbits come in so many different colours and sizes.

"I'm quite shocked and proud to win. He is a beautiful rabbit and probably one of the best I've bred, so that's helped and shown today.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/uBSOmT80Q8">pic.twitter.com/uBSOmT80Q8</a></p>— Reece Hanson (@rhansonNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/rhansonNWEM/status/890156725009088514">26 July 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ulverston town councillor and farmer James Airey took part in the show with a number of his sheep.

He said: "It's been a brilliant day apart from the weather. People are coming round and having a look at the stock and I think as the sun shines more and more we'll get them coming to see.

"These events are absolutely critical for the agricultural industry and farming in general. This is our shop window.

"It's not just other farmers that come to have a look, it's the general public too, and then they can understand where the food on their plate is coming from."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The rain has finally stopped and these guys are delighted about it <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uanls?src=hash">#uanls</a> <a href="https://t.co/JIY1bTgoHq">pic.twitter.com/JIY1bTgoHq</a></p>— Reece Hanson (@rhansonNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/rhansonNWEM/status/890172626353750016">26 July 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The day was also an opportunity to celebrate some of the area's favourite canines, with Alice's Dog Show returning for its seventh year.

The event was founded in 2011 as part of Alice Pyne's bucket list and has become a regular fixture in the show's calendar. The inspirational Alice died aged 17 in January 2013 after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma for five years.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But then! <a href="https://t.co/jqNa56J7Of">pic.twitter.com/jqNa56J7Of</a></p>— Reece Hanson (@rhansonNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/rhansonNWEM/status/890198906822438913">26 July 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cathy Broomfield sponsored the event along with husband Simon praised the participants for braving the rain and savouring the sunshine when it finally showed up.

She said: "We're really, really happy and I think Alice would be proud. Everyone's really enjoyed their day with the dogs.

"It's so important that we do this for Alice. It's hard to describe how important it is. It's something she wanted to do on her bucket list and I just know she'd be smiling.

"We're really happy, despite the weather. Dog show people are really resilient and they've turned up once again for us."

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Aside from the livestock on show, there was also a special space reserved on the bill for expert stick makers to go head-to-head, with Dennis Wall taking the top prize.

Mr Wall, who has made sticks for Prince Charles and Camilla before, said: "The show's gone well and we've had quite a few local competitors.

"There was about six or seven different stick makers entering. Once they went through all the different classes they judged what they thought was best in show, which happened to be mine this year.

"It took me about 20-25 hours to make the winning one. Working with the rams horn like I do is a long and slow task because I've got to heat it and resqueeze it and completely reshape it.

"These crafting shows are really important because it's an old craft that's been going for centuries.

"We've brought it to a higher standard where we've got more technical equipment and it's almost like an art form these days."