LIVE: Our reporter searches out the fashion and fun (and some news) from this year's Ploughing

Huge crowds are being drawn to Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show in Stradbally.

The 2014 National Ploughing Championships are taking place in Co Laois.

Follow our live updates from this intrinsic part of Irish rural life here.

Events on Wednesday 24th of September 2014

Throughout the Day

Vintage Exhibition

Husqvarna Hurdle

Live Robotic Chase

Junior Hunt Chase

Sheep Shearing Demos

8.00am: Trade Machinery, Livestock and General Exhibition Opens

9.30pm Sheep Dog Trials Arena: Open

10.30am:

• National Ploughing Competitions until 2.30pm
• Senior Conventional Plough Class (Day 1)
• Senior Reversible Plough Class (Day 1)
• Farmerette Conventional Plough Class
• Macra 2 Furrow Conventional Plough Class
• Vintage 2 Furrow Mounted Plough Class
• Visitors 2 Furrow Conventional Plough Class ( Day 1)
• Senior Horse Plough Class

11.30am: Fashion Show

1.00pm: Sheep Dog Trials Arena:Young Handlers

1.30pm: Fashion Show

1.30pm Aldi Stand: National Brown Bread Baking Competition Semi-Final

2.00pm: Sheep Dog Trials Arena

3.30pm: Fashion Show:Most Appropriately Dressed Awards

6.00pm: Ploughing Competition results announced from Bandstand

6.30pm: Exhibition closes

For more on the Ploughing Championships, follow the links below for day two of our Farming Special:

- 82,000 attend the first day of Ploughing

- 46% back death penalty for child rape

- 85% feel safe in homes despite some Garda stations closing

- The economy and agri-business

- Higgins ‘very upset’ at level of suicide in rural areas