Brecknockshire Agricultural Society

[2] The Society was established in March 1755, with the object and purpose of "encouraging agriculture and local manufactures, and the promotion of the general good of the county."

The Society in its early days offered premiums for cloth manufactured in the county, but the competition was not successful, and led to no adequate result.

The Society in its early days offered premiums for turnips, but there were people in those days that could not see the use of growing turnips, for it was observed "that it was only after experiencing difficulties and encountering prejudices suggested by that dislike and hatred of innovation which characterizes the country [that's rather a reflection on our forefathers], they ultimately succeeded in introducing this valuable vegetable into general use in this part of the principality.

"[4] The earliest transcribed rules of the Society stated that it was more of a "county club," as every subscriber must pay "for his ordinary each meeting one shilling, and for his extraordinary a like sum."

Prizes were offered for the reclamation and fallowing of common land for wheat, and to the farm labourers and boys who drilled and hoed the greatest number of acres of turnips.