Tendring Show's director is celebrating his last event on July 12 - before he hangs up his tape measure after 37 years.
As he stands down, land agent David Brooks, 69, knows he will be leaving the much-loved event in excellent hands.
His successor is his daughter - Vicki Brooks, 39 - who has been attending the event since she was a tiny tot.
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David - who lives locally and plans to continue in a support role - says it's believed he is one of only three show directors in the last 100 years.
"It's that continuity that's important. It's knowing what works and doesn't work and knowing what stand-holders have said in the past," he says.
This year, there are some headaches during set-up. The spring drought has left the ground rock hard - making the job of driving in posts challenging.
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Organisers haven't seen the grass dry out as quickly in many years.
But while it used to take about two weeks to mark out the showground, this year - thanks to satellite technology - he and his daughter completed it in one morning - a record.
The show - run by the 800-strong Tendring Hundred Farmers' Club - takes place at Lawford House Park, near Manningtree, on July 12, and attracts around 20,000 visitors.
As well as owning its own 40-acre parcel of land it also borrows a good chunk from supportive farmer neighbours to accommodate the event which is spread out over 120 acres.
"Everyone is willing to help - that's the joy," says David. There are 215 volunteer stewards on the day.
The not-for-profit show is very much a community undertaking, with many farmer volunteers pitching in.
"It's good fun," says David, as he recalls his first year as director in 1988. Prior to that he shadowed his predecessor Robert Harding.
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During his first year the big transition was moving cars away from the main ring - something he and Robert had negotiated beforehand and which in the end went without a hitch.
"That was dramatic. We used to have the grand ring and the vice presidents could park their cars around the grand ring," he says.
But out of a membership of 200 to 300 there were just two or three dissenting voices - not bad, he says. Back then, everything was done at a slower pace though, he says.
He has directed the show every year since - with the exception of 2001, 2020 and 2021 when it was cancelled due to foot-and-mouth then the pandemic.
Organisationally, he likes to talk to those involved and seeing what works best - and his final year is no different.
"For my last show as director I have done it again. We have moved the members' tent to the opposite end of the president's ring," he says.
The aim is to be a "window to the countryside", he says.
"Part of what we do is a very soft educational approach to try and educate people that what they see in the countryside is the result of a lot of very hard work," he explains. "As soon as you come into the show you are seeing the countryside."
Livestock competitions and farm machinery remain centrepieces, and organisers are proud that it was one of the first shows to host a "Farming on the Move" display.
David is also retiring at the end of September as land agent from Brooks Leney - the firm he helped form.
For him, the best part of show day is sitting down with a glass of beer at 5pm as it ends and just soaking it all in.
During the day, he's too busy to think, but at that point he can look back on what they have achieved.
"A glass of beer and you are on a high," he says. His thoughts then turn to how he can improve on it next year.
The show is a family affair for the Brooks. Vicki has an elder sister, Liz, who with husband, David Lord, runs the countryside area.
Meantime, Vicki's husband, farm manager James Groom, is vice chairman.
Vicki's day job is as an agronomist covering Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire for Agrii.
She is looking forward to taking on the challenge of running the event - but knows she has big shoes to fill. She has learnt "so much" from him, she says.
“It’s a huge honour to take over from my dad. He has helped build something truly special, and I’m proud to carry it forward," she says.
"I’ve grown up with the show. I’ve seen it from every angle, from being part of the show build team to my role as assistant show director.”
Her focus will be on continuing the show's evolution, keeping it special and adding new attractions while thinking about sustainability and reaching new audiences.
"We want to make sure the show works for everyone, including families, farmers, foodies, kids, and first-time visitors,” she says.
Show president David Hunter - who built a large hard-standing area at the showground - both farms and builds farm reservoirs.
He is part of a farming group with brothers Will and Charlie Lochore. Together they farm around 3,000 acres and grow around 600 acres each of onions, potatoes and maize for an anaerobic digestion plant on the farm.
He moved to Tendring in 1986 and was quickly brought within the Tendring Hundred fold by member Tom Glover Sr. He has been involved ever since.
Apart from three office workers, everyone gives their time voluntarily to the show.
The president has chosen "sport for all" as this year's theme, and visitors will be encouraged to don their trainers and get involved in a host of sports from cricket and football to archery and table tennis.
His aim is to encourage inclusivity and healthy lifestyles which bring the community together.
There will be a climbing wall, a surfboard simulator and sporting displays such as Pedal Power vs Parkour and Shetland pony racing.
Opportunities for audience participation include rugby, dog agility demonstrations, and tug of war.
Familiar attractions include an Art & Lifestyle Pavilion, a Food & Drink Pavilion and a Food Court offering local produce and culinary treats.
An outdoor education zone will be revealing bushcraft skills and a countryside area will be explaining fascinating facts about bats and bees.
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