The Old Time Farming section is a firm favourite at the New Forest & Hampshire County Show – here’s a closer look at this year’s incredible set-ups.

Live Timber Sawing with ‘Volunteer’

One of the must-see demos is the Stenner & Gunn No.4 rack saw bench, powered by 1913 Fowler traction engine ‘Volunteer’, which spent much of its working life right here in the New Forest. This powerful machine will be cutting logs into smooth timber, ready to return to the sawmill and be made into wedges.

Nothing goes to waste – any off-cuts are passed over to a miniature traction engine and saw bench, where they’re chopped down and burned to fuel Volunteer itself. It’s an impressive and authentic look at how self-sustaining this work once was.

Rare Threshing Equipment in Action

Also in operation is a rare threshing drum and reed comber, made by Murch of Umberleigh, Devon. This specialist kit will be used to separate grain from straw, with the straw tied into sheaves by a Ruston Hornsby trusser – a machine with links to the New Forest.

The setup mirrors how straw was once prepared for thatching and milling, and visitors can watch as the process unfolds with help from the WWII Land Girls re-enactors, who will be on hand to move sheaves and fork leftover straw into the adjacent baler.

Steam Engines Behind the Scenes

These complex demonstrations require serious horsepower – in this case, steam power. Three traction engines will be working throughout the day:

• ‘The Earl of Eldon’ (Garrett, 1910) – powered much of the threshing setup and has been in the same family since 1947
• ‘Vectis’ (Wallis & Steevens, 1909) – powering the stationary baler
• ‘Smokey’ (Aveling & Porter, 1926) – appearing in the main arena parade (Weather dependant)
• ‘Volunteer’ (Fowler, 1913) powering the rack saw bench

These engines, many of which worked in Hampshire and Dorset for decades, are a living link to the region’s agricultural history.

A True Team Effort

What makes these demos special isn’t just the machinery – it’s the people behind them. The process is physically demanding and requires a small army of skilled volunteers to operate smoothly. It’s a reminder of how labour-intensive farming once was, and how far things have come in the age of automation.

See It for Yourself

These working demonstrations are a key part of the Old Time Farming area and a brilliant way to step into the past. Whether you’re into steam engines, curious about how timber or grain were once processed, or just love seeing skilled people in action – this is one not to miss. Engine owners & crew will be more than happy to chat about their history so feel free to ask away!

Don’t forget to visit the Old Time Farming section to catch it all in action.

Buy your tickets today and enjoy the full line-up of activities, live demos and performances at this year’s Show. To find out what else is happening across the Showground, head over to our What’s On page or read some of our latest articles!