: Animal Magic; Abigail Hughes looks at the annual celebration of Welsh farming.

PREENED ponies and glam goats. Welcome to a countryside catwalk where the farmyard meets the beauty contest.

It can only be the eminent Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, back in stunning style for its 98th year of celebrating the cream of rural life. And celebration will certainly be in the air at this summer's show, in full bloom once more after the dark days of foot-and-mouth disease meant it was unable to take place last year.

Among those presenting the televised coverage from the site at Builth Wells for S4C are Amanda Protheroe-Thomas, Sian Thomas and Sulwyn Thomas.

And Sulwyn, who has been making the annual pilgrimage to the show for over 30 years, is known as a veteran on the field.

``I first visited the Royal Welsh in 1968 and have been every year since except in 1969 when I got married,'' he says. ``The pattern of events has hardly altered overtime, although the animals and the machinery have changed. There used to be just half a dozen or so permanent buildings, but now there are many more.

``Whereas in the 1960s, it catered primarily for the farming community, its appeal has broadened greatly and now over 200,000 people visit each year. It had to attract more of a following just to sustain itself, but this has by no means compromised the show.

And what a show it is. Aside from being Britain's largest sheep exhibition, there will also be spectator sports like falconry displays and daredevil stunts from quad biker, Mr Kangaroo. Also, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will return for the first time in half a century.''

The spotlight may be on the carefully reared livestock, with strictly judged classes for every breed of beast imaginable, but backstage conversation is more political.

``Something always happens just before the show that affects the industry as a whole,'' says Sulwyn. ``This year everyone will be discussing Common Agricultural Policy reforms and in the past it has been BSE.''

Despite spending so much time working with animals and television cameras, the only problems Sulwyn has faced have been technical.

``My voice went one year and another time I lost my earpiece meaning I lost all contact with the director during a live show. But I've been very lucky - I've never been kicked by a horse!''

Producer Dyfrig Davies will be filming the event for S4C. He explained the show settled in Builth Wells in 1963 after years of touring the country.

``It was chosen as the place in mid-Wales which had the least rainfall!'' he says. But while sunshine draws the crowds, it means harvesting for many farmers who must make hay while the sun shines, even if they miss the show.

``As the first year after footand-mouth, this will be an important show to build up the confidence of people in the rural communities again,'' says Dyfrig. ``There is a real feeling that people need the Royal Welsh to take place now as a celebration of the farming industry.

``There is always a fantastic, vibrant atmosphere and there will certainly be a feeling of freedom this year now foot-and-mouth constraints have been lifted.''

So vital to the industry's morale is the Royal Welsh Show, it is often described as the hearth of agriculture.

``It is an important backbone to what is often a solitary job, but I'd say it is even more than that,'' says Dyfrig. ``It is at the very heart of the farming community. There are many interesting characters who meet at the show year after year. Some competitors take the judging extremely seriously, but the majority are there for pure enjoyment because it has such a social side.

``If it is possible for a sheep to have stage presence, it is here. Even Dyfrig admits it is uncanny how well behaved the animals are. I find lots of aspects of the show amusing. One competition chooses the five finest beef cattle to walk around the show-ring and it makes me smile because they look just like performers.

``These animals are the best there are and they have been trained to be around people. They are used to posing and I've even caught sheep looking straight into the camera!''

L Keep up with events on S4C's website www.s4c.co.uk/sioe

CAPTION(S):

PRESENTER: Amanda; Protheroe-Thomas; ROYAL VISIT:; Prince Charles viewing the bulls in the cattle ring at the last Royal Welsh Show - held in 2000