Once a year, organisers of the Cornish Steam and Country Fair recreate ancient harvesting methods to cut the corn that will be used during the three day event to showcase the vintage farming machinery on display.

West of England Steam Engine Society (WESES) committee members, Alan ‘Pasty’ Caple, Colin Hosking and Robert Eddy of Trenuggo Shires met in the fields near the Stithians Showground, the venue for this annual show which is held between August 19 and 21.

The harvesting methods used by the team reproduces age-old methods using a traditional reaper binder which is pulled by three shire horses. Once the corn has been harvested it is then ‘shocked’ by hand, a method of stacking the corn so it can dry efficiently.

Pasty said: “It’s great to see these old ways in action, and still doing the job really well. Having cut the corn we load it onto a horse drawn cart and take it over to the showground in time for the big event this weekend. There will be a display area at the show where visitors can come and see how the corn was processed once removed from the fields. The corn is thrashed to remove the grain, and then baled. Some of it is chaffed for bedding and feed using a steam driven chaff cutter. The machinery has obviously changed over the years, but the process and principles are very much the same.”

Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the annual show, run by WESES, which will celebrate its 61st year with a special exhibit; Fowler Showman’s engine Supreme.

Over 700 classic steam engines and vehicles will be on display along with lots of fun family activities, including heavy horses, a circus, rural display and a vintage fun fair.

Simon Tonkin, WESES chairman, said: “Cornwall is the heartland of steam, this event is a true celebration of our heritage and a time for us all to come together and have some fun. This year’s Cornish Steam and Country Fair is going to be one of the best, there is so much going on for all the family.”

Admission will be £10 for adults, £6 for children 12 years and over, and free entry for children under 11, and more information is available at www.weses.co.uk