Yesterday, over 5,000 people braved the rain and wind to join president Joe Dolan for the annual Mullingar Agricultural Show.
He is not "that" Joe Dolan, but his uncle, a beef farmer from Portloman, near Mullingar, and he has been involved with the show for 50 years - nearly as long as his nephew is in showbusiness.
Joe is one of the declining number of volunteers who have stuck to the agri-show business through thick and thin and now accepts that volunteerism is under serious pressure.
"Its very hard to get people to help out . . . it's possible that the show might die out with old-timers like myself but it would be a pity if it did," he said.
This year there was a small decline in the number of entries for farm livestock, especially in the cattle section where there were 197 animals entered in the classes - one of which was "Beef to the Heel Mullingar Heifer".
There were also 150 sheep presented in the various categories but there were over 600 horses of all shapes and sizes being judged, and jumping on the new sanded arena on which the society has spent €100,000.
Moreover, as agriculture readjusts to the realities of farming without subsidy, there was huge interest in the alternative energy stand where John Barron of Biogreen, a Wexford-based firm, was showing farmers how to make fuel from oilseed rape.
"We have recently invested €2 million down in the Wexford plant near Adamstown, because we believe that the future lies there," said Mr Barron.
The event, opened by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Brendan Smith, was remarkably clear of politicians at what should have been the opening bout between Donie Cassidy and Mary O'Rourke.
Donie had been there when the Minister was around but there was no sign of Mary, who lives in nearby Athlone.
There was, however, a group of 12 Finnish entrepreneurs, including one member of parliament, who will never forget the trip to Ireland as their luggage was mislaid and no amount of hospitality could provide consolation.
They had been invited by the show society who contacted them through the EU Leader network which has helped build the showgrounds which overlook Mullingar.
The show, which the organisers say could not be held without voluntary input, costs at least €30,000 to stage but only breaks even.
However, society grounds are used as a golf training centre and the equestrian elements are leased or used regularly. It is this funding that helps keep the society from going the way of many - out of business.