The National Ploughing Championships () or NPC, previously known as The National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition, is an outdoor agricultural show in Ireland incorporating a ploughing contest. Held every September, it draws over 1,700 exhibitors and had 297,000 visitors in 2019. Competition classes There are distinct categories of horse drawn and tractor ploughing, as well as for the use of reversible ploughs. Ancillary events such as pole climbing competitions have also taken place as part of the Championships. History The first Irish inter-county ploughing contest was held between County Wexford and County Kildare on 16 February 1931 in a 26-acre field at Coursetown in Athy in County Kildare. Since then, the National Ploughing Championships has expanded to over 800 acres with 1,700 exhibitors. It has been extended beyond displays relating to ploughing, farming and machinery and now includes a tented trade village, live entertainment and music, fashion shows, a craft village, cooking demonstrations, sheep dog trials, pony games and other activities. In 2014, the event attracted what was then a record of 279,500 visitors, rising to 281,000 in 2015, 283,000 in 2016 and 291,500 in 2017. Foundation The original mission statement for the National Ploughing Association, the body which organises the event, was set out as bringing "the message of good ploughing to all parts of the country and to provide a pleasant and friendly place to meet and do business". One of the co-founders of the Association, JJ Bergin, became its first managing director. In 1952, he represented Ireland at the first meeting of the World Ploughing Organisation (WPO) and was appointed their vice president. The first world contest was hosted by Canada in 1953, and the second was in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland in 1954. Ten countries competed in the 1954 event, which was the first ploughing competition in which women competed. The winner of this 'Farmerette' class was known as 'Queen of the Plough'. In 1955, the National Ploughing Championships expanded into a 2-day event. The association became a limited liability company and was incorporated on 2 March 1956. JJ Bergin continued to manage NPA until his death in 1958. Upon his death, the NPA appointed hurler Seán O'Farrell as managing director, a role he held until his death in 1972. A national bread baking competition was introduced by NPA in co-operation with ESB in 1958 that continues to this day. In 1959, O'Farrell represented