And this year's three-day event, which celebrates agriculture and country life, is set to be more popular than ever, with a royal visit from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh planned for Thursday.

The show offers visitors a mix of traditional rural features, a range of entertainment including competitive classes, top-flight show jumping in the Main Ring, cattle parades and a breathtaking equestrian display by the Great Lorenzo.

The Black Dyke Band, the world's most famous brass band, will perform as this year's official show band, while and 150 years of Bridal Fashion will be showcased in the Fashion Pavilion.

Hot air balloons are back due to popular demand and will launch from the Main Ring every day. There will also be a 30m Great Show Wheel, which will offer amazing views of Harrogate and the 250-acre showground itself.

Thousands of animals, from sheep and goats to pigs and horses, will be on display, along with demonstrations of traditional rural skills such as sheep-shearing and wood carving.

There will also be plenty of have-a-go activities and food exhibitions on offer, including the Great Yorkshire Cheese and Dairy Show. Plus fashion, rural crafts and shopping.

This year visitors can expect a colourful show as the showground will be entering the 2008 Yorkshire in Bloom Awards.

A team of 20 staff from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, including site supervisor Mick Askew and chief executive Nigel Pulling, have been assisting with the preparations by planting over 80 tubs and troughs.

The society entered the prestigious annual awards for the first time last year and won a Silver Gilt Medal, and is hoping to be even more successful this year.

There will also be a treat for cookery and Betty's fans alike as Lesley Wild – founder of Betty's Cookery School in Harrogate – will be demonstrating dishes from her recent cookery book, A Year of Family Recipes. She will also be giving visitors a personal glimpse into her working life in the business over the years.

This year 20 employees with 782 years of collective service to agriculture are to be honoured by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at the show.

Almost 800 years of service to agriculture will be honoured by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at this year's event.

The awards will be presented by the society's president, Christopher Hall.

Meanwhile, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has accepted an invitation to attend the show. Also visiting the show is John Bridge, chairman of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board.