NEARLY 100 years have passed since a farming family's shire horses first graced the fields of the biggest one-day show in Wales.

It all began in 1913, when George Heath showcased the animals, from one of the largest numbers of stock kept in the country at the time at Trelleck Grange.

But the family's passion for taking their prize-winning animals to the Monmouth, Chepstow and Usk shows has not waned. Five generations later and the Hart family are still going strong.

They traced their history back to Mr Heath's son Henry who continued farming with the 25 to 30 horses in Trelleck, until they were gradually made redundant by the invention of tractors.

The shire horses were sold off and Jack and Crink Heath, 92, had success with their dairy British Freisan cows.

Their daughter Barbara, 54, married Steve Hart, 56 and the family live on St Dials farm in Monmouth.

They have 100 dairy cows, with some arable crops on 220 acres.

Two years ago, Mr Hart, whose family has also been on the Monmouth show committee for at least the last 42 years, won the award for the best dairy animal in show from his team of eight cows.

Success runs in the family - their daughters Kathryn, 24 who is training to be a vet at Bristol University and Isobel, 20, have also found the key to showing prize-winning livestock.

Their dad says his youngest daughter was the second best showman in the country around three years ago.

"She has beat the boys a lot of times at national competitions for clipping and preparation," he says proudly.

Mr Hart has taken cows to county shows every year since 1963 - apart from during foot and mouth and the years when the animals contracted tuberculosis.

But his burning desire to continue showing still continues.

He said: "I love competition in any form really, it's the only way we know our cows are better than others."

"It would be easy to stay on the farm 365 days of the year but I believe the local agricultural shows need supporting - it's vital we educate the public about farming."

In August, Mr Hart plans to make his annual trip to the Monmouth show.

He spends hours taking pride in preparing his cows.

"Showing is a lot of work. It's the training beforehand, washing, clipping them and getting the right bloom on their coat. They also have to behave on the halter as they are not used to being tied up."

His daughters also keep a small herd of Aberdeen Angus cows they hope to show in the next 18 months.

Mr Hart said there are benefits all round.

"Most of the cows really like showing. It is like a dog which likes to be petted. People cuddle them and the cows like it as much as the general public," he said.

The 2011 show is set for August 25.