AN ever-expanding dairy is carrying the legacy of its founder forward in helping to preserve and improve the Royal Cheshire County Show for the next generation.

Delamere Dairy – based at Yew Tree Farm in Bexton Lane – now has three years under its belt as a principal sponsor of the show in Tabley.

Famed for its goat products, the company was founded in Delamere Forest by Liz Sutton and her late husband Roger, who led the company into a move to Knutsford and a diverse line of products including cow and sheep dairy.

Managing director Ed Salt said: “Roger and Liz founded the company from a farming background, and within that the Cheshire Show is always one of the best events of the year.

“Sadly Roger died 18 months ago, but before he died we started sponsoring the main ring and we have continued to do so.

“We started with three goats in 1985 and we also now do cow products and sheep dairy as well, and we have started to do more plant based products with the brand Planted.”

As well as moving with the trends, the company is well-known worldwide for its traditional goat milk products, with exports to American, the Middle East, Australia, and – soon – India.

Staying true to its roots, the company is working closely with the show’s organisers, the Cheshire Agricultural Society, and fellow sponsors to keep growing the famous event.

Ed added: “I’ve been coming here since I was small – many people my age will have experienced it on school trips and it’s great to see that there are lots more school trips these days.

“That gives us a chance as a business to show children our core values of ‘fun, healthy and responsible’ – that's responsibility for our animals and local farmers as well.

“The show is always one of those things that’s first in the diary every year – you just have to hope the sun is shining.”

Despite mud underfoot on Tuesday, the show again drew in huge crowds – a staple of the agricultural calendar in Cheshire and far beyond.

The Cheshire Agricultural Society’s objective is to make sure we have a platform for agriculture, so that the general public can understand and get closer to the products and what’s produced on their doorstep,” Ed explained.

“There is a lot of work going into the future of the show – how to make that better so that it’s here for the future and continues to support and promote agriculture in the Cheshire area.

“All being well, we support where we can with sponsorship, stalls or personally helping out.”