HE DOESN'T have a very macho name but Hendy Fanfare was the undisputed king of the field.
The giant bull from Holme-on-Spalding Moor was held firmly by breeder Catherine Thompson while rosettes and ribbons were attached.
All the time, his eyes for on his water bucket. At 1.2 tonnes, the three-year-old stud bull from Holme House Farm was feeling the heat.
He wasn't the only one; temperatures were pushing 30C, making this year's Driffield Show one of the hottest, and busiest, ever.
Taking the radio briefly from his ear, show director David Tite said: "It's glorious, absolutely fantastic, who could want for more.
"It's really gone wonderfully well, we may have had 25,000 people."
The glorious weather had brought the crowds but David's efforts, along with those from the rest of his team, had ensured they would have plenty to do.
With last summer's dreadful weather – Driffield was one of the few shows to survive intact – businesses could have been forgiven for staying away.
But David said: "There are 500 trade stands, which is well up on last year. It's nice to be able to say that, after last year, we could have been in trouble with trade stands but in fact we've got a cracking display."
Cars and gleaming farm machinery stood alongside local food produce, clothes and charity marquees.
Managing Costello's bakery stall, Denise Costello and Faye Garnett weren't bothered by the hot weather.
Denise, who normally works in a shop on Main Street, Driffield, said: "It's nice to be outside, it's cooler here than in the shop, it's lovely.
"You see so many people that you know and sometimes there are people you haven't seen for ages."
Despite the food and entertainment, Driffield is one show that has not lost its agricultural roots.
Farmers from across the North are honoured for the quality of their animals.
The show committee also made its annual long-service awards to farmers and farm workers who have made an outstanding contribution.
One went to Philip Atkin, who works at Field House Farm in Beeford, and is renowned for his skills in pig husbandry.
The 56-year-old said: "It's an achievement being appreciated for what you do. The boss just leaves us to it, I've enjoyed it right through the pig job."
Another of those honoured was George Battams, 64, who has farmed for A Dawson and Co in Rudston since 1965.
He was described by master of ceremonies Julian Cook as the neatest big bale stacker around.
Mr Battams said: "My boss is one of the best bosses you could get.
"I remember him saying at Driffield Show in 1965, 'will you come and work with me?'
"I haven't looked back."
Alongside Mr Battams, Routh farmer Eric Rodmell, 66, of Church Farm, was another of those honoured.
He is 66 and has seen four generations come and go at the farm but he'll be working again this harvest.
Mr Rodmell said: "There's nothing wrong with the job, you're not under any stress.
"But there's not many youngsters wanting to work these days, the average age is 58."
Round at the East Riding Young Farmers' tent, agriculture still seemed to be a growing business.
Emily Marginson, county junior chairman, said: "We've had to turn people away who wanted to help out and there were more people at this year's Blackpool AGM than ever before.
"This is good for us getting more members and it's about having fun.
"We were going to have splat the rat on our stall but, with it being so hot, we went for apple bobbing."
Even younger than the East Yorkshire Young Farmers, ten-year-old Stella Chapman, of Hunthill Farm, Hempholme, near Brandesburton, won a yearling class with a Holstein calf.
Her mum, Joanne, had the champion Holstein.
Mrs Chapman said: "My dad, Mike Southwell, has been coming to the show for 60 years, showing Fresians, which are now called Holsteins.
"We also won the Best Group of Three Holsteins and that was for the Southwell Brothers Cup, named by my granddad, who died in September."
Stella is keen to follow in the family tradition and is already honing her skills at training calves to walk on a halter when they are younger.
It's a knack Catherine Thompson knows all about. Champion Charolais Hendy Fanfare has the size to be a bit of a handful for someone so slight.
Mrs Thompson said: "There are quite a few women nowadays breeding cattle – it's not that unusual."
Looking to her bull, she said: "He's so strong that, even if you were a chap, he'd pull you over. The trick is I try to breed quiet cattle."
Just like Hendy Fanfare, East Yorkshire agriculture, and Driffield Show in particular, seem to be in good hands.
