BBC News Online spoke to four people who were affected by the cancellation to find out what this year's show means to them.

Ann Thomas-Jones, 26, shows Welsh Mountain ponies for her parents business - Lacy & Egoes stud in Bala, north Wales.

"We show horses at shows and the Royal Welsh is one of the biggest, but last year we more or less closed down because the horses we look after didn't have shows to go to.

"Obviously this had a financial impact on us, but it was more than that because the Royal Welsh is meeting place and we missed that last year.

"There was low morale among a lot of people and the show being cancelled didn't help, but it had to be done.

I am looking forward to seeing people I haven't seen since the last Royal Welsh

Ann Thomas-Jones

"It was also very frustrating because we lost an opportunity to show animals when they would have been at their peak.

"People were despondent because after spending time and money on getting the animal ready, there was no show to take them to.

"The Royal Welsh is the main window to show these animals.

"But this year, I am so excited about it. I am going to be there for the week and am looking forward to seeing people I haven't seen since the last Royal Welsh.

"It should be good and I hope there will be a bit of a party after all the work has been done. This is a busy time of year for us.

"I've been quite surprised how everything has come back to normal so quickly considering the effect of the foot-and-mouth outbreak."

Woodturner Mike Crick, 58, from the Llyn Peninsula in north Wales is a regular stallholder at the Royal Welsh.

"I have had a stall at the show for the last six or seven years and I hope that this year is going to be one of the best.

"Last year was very disappointing. I remember hearing there wasn't going to be a show on the news.

One farmer told me how he spoke more to his neighbour in the Royal Welsh than he ever does at home

Mike Crick

"I had just collected a van load of timber which I had spent hundred of pounds on and heard that a farm next the showground had been infected. "It was such a shock.

"It wasn't the end of the world but it was a shock, especially after I had spent the money.

"The shows generate a lot of income and it was very disappointing for me and a lot of others when it was called off.

Ariel view of the Royal Welsh showground

"A lot of people suffered from the foot-and-mouth crisis last year, and I think that people will be very keen to go to the show this year.

"It is a big social point for people in agriculture. One farmer told me how he spoke more to his neighbour in the Royal Welsh than he ever does at home.

"I'm looking forward to it, my wife and I have been preparing the stall and we hope it will be a success for everyone."

Chief Nursing Officer for St John's Ambulance, Hazel Cook, 44, from Llandinam, mid Wales has attended every show since 1969.

"Last year was absolutely terrible, we all had withdrawal symptoms.

"I felt upset - not just for myself - but because it's the only time of the year when all the St John's ambulance volunteers from Powys and other parts of Wales get together.

"Everyone looks forward to that week and takes their annual leave off to coincide with it.

Last year things were hard enough without the show being cancelled as well

Hazel Cook

"People see it as their summer holiday and when we heard it was cancelled we just didn't know what to do with ourselves.

"It was such a shame because many farmers see it as a nice break after the harvest has been done and last year things were hard enough without the show being cancelled as well.

"We were all hoping that the show would go on but it didn't happen.

St John's Ambulance will meet at the show

"I think it will be a really good show this year, people will really try to make the effort to go and considering the weather has been so good, many farmers will have finished the hay and will be able to enjoy it.

"At the show, we see a lot of people who need treatment from us. A lot of them are elderly people who go to the show every year and just push themselves a bit too much."

One of the organisers, Sheila Saer is the assistant secretary for the Royal Welsh Show.

"I have been working here for the last eight years and last year we were all devastated when we had to take the decision to cancel the show.

"It was a very busy time for us because the show had been organised and we had to cancel everything.

We all felt a loss in the continuity of things, there was a gap

Sheila Saer

"But by September we all picked ourselves up and started to prepare for this year's show.

"It has been a lot of work despite keeping the same schedules for the events that had been planned for 2001.

"We had to contact the traders and judges to check they were attending and sort out a lot of other things.

"And because the show hadn't gone on last year, we all felt a loss in the continuity of things, there was a gap.

Positive feel

"Where as year on year we were doing things continuously, there was no instant recall this year, but it has come together very well.

"The office has been buzzing and everyone is looking forward to a great show, even though it has been a very hard show to put together.

"There is a very positive feel this year and everyone seems to want to take part, we have totally filled the trade stands and had to turn away over 100 applicants.

"The Royal Welsh is the biggest agricultural shop window in Wales and it means a lot to everyone that it takes place this year.

A foal being judged at the show

"Last year was the only time the show was cancelled since the war, it was awful - but we had to cancel and we were supported by everyone.

"I was very worried that despite the advertisements we took out saying we had cancelled people would still show up and the last thing any of us wanted was unnecessary travel to the area.

"Thankfully no-one did turn up, but I'll be glad to see them this year."