What's that smell? Sophie Wessex gamely sniffs a handful of SILAGE as she attends a contest at an agricultural show in Cumbria
- Sophie, 54, teamed her chunky jumper with a beige blazer and a red skirt
- Smelt the silage at the Westmorland County Agricultural Society's competition
- She also visited the oldest coffee roasters in the UK - John Farrer & Co in Kendal
Being royal is a privileged life, but sometimes the job does have its less than glamorous moments, as the Countess of Wessex experienced today.
Sophie, 54, found herself confronted with a huge mound of silage as she attended the Westmorland County Agricultural Society's Annual Silage Competition.
However, she looked like she was enjoying her role as president of the society, as she felt and gamely smelled a handful of silage during the competition at the Westmorland County Show.
Silage is a fermnented animal feed, used for cattle and sheep, made from grass crops such as maize and other cereals and hay or oats.
It's either made in a pit where vegetation is compressed as much as possible to get rid of oxygen, or by wrapping bales in large plastic sheet.
The produce sometimes has a strong, sweet smell or can even have an aroma of vinegar due to acetic acid formed during fermentation.
The Countess of Wessex looked stylish today as she wrapped up warm in a chunky brown chunky polo neck to visit a coffee roasters and county show in Cumbria
Sophie looked like she was enjoying her role as president of the society, as she felt and smelt the silage during the competition
Sophie Countess of Wessex speaks to a competition entry as she attends the Westmorland County Agricultural Society's Annual Silage Competition
The royal looked stylish today as she wrapped up warm in a chunky brown chunky polo neck, paired with a beige blazer to meet judges and exhibitors .
Mother-of-two Sophie also wore her blonde locks up, twisted on top of her head and accessorised with pretty coloured earrings.
Share this article
The Countess is president of the society and she spent the afternoon looking at some of the 100 competition entries at Lords Plain Farm, while also meeting judges and exhibitors.
The event also included educational workshops for secondary school pupils - which showed them the role of livestock, nutrition and animal welfare, in regards to the production of food.
The Countess of Wessex made sure she smelt the silage at the Westmorland County Agricultural Society's Annual Silage Competition
In a nod to this season's hottest hue Sophie, 54, paired her jumper with a beige blazer to meet judges and exhibitors at the Westmorland County Agricultural Society's Annual Silage Competition
The Countess looked in good spirits as she wore her blonde locks up, twisted on top of her head and accessorised with pretty coloured earrings
Sophie Countess of Wessex visits John Farrer & Co Ltd in Kendal and tries her hand at making one of their coffees. The royal wore beige in a nod to this season's hottest colour
The Countess of Wessex looked stylish as she wrapped up warm in a dark brown chunky polo neck, to visit a coffee roaster in Cumbria, pairing it with a smart coat
Earlier in the day Sophie was shown how to make coffee and was given a tour of one of the UK's oldest coffee roasters - John Farrer & Co in Kendal, Cumbria.
Farrer's coffee roasters is one of the oldest blenders and roasters of teas and coffee in the UK, established in 1819 by John Farrer.
The Countess looked in good spirits as she joked with staff members who taught her how to make a coffee using their machines.
Sophie, who took off her beige coat and donned an apron to get involved, looked successful as she held up her cup of coffee at the end of her lesson.
Later on she was shown around the factory, where they roast the beans. It was here where she showed off her other accessories including a brown snakeskin clutch and a gold bangle.
Sophie Countess of Wessex visits John Farrer & Co today, which is a coffee roasters in Cumbria. The Countess looked in good spirits as she joked with staff members
The Countess looked in good spirits as she joked with staff members who taught her how to make a coffee using their machines
Sophie, who had taken off her beige coat and donned a pinny to get involved looked successful as she held up her cup of coffee at the end of her lesson
After a tour of the factory, which she looked enthralled by, Sophie was even given some coffee beans to take away with her.
She was also there to take the honour of unveiling a plaque to mark 200 years of the the company and celebrate its anniversary.
The family business was started by John Farrer 200 years ago, with the aroma of roasting coffee spreading through the market town of Kendal.
As she looked at the beans roasting she showed off her other accessories including a brown snakeskin clutch and a gold bangle. The business was started by John Farrer 200 years ago
Sophie Countess of Wessex admiring the beans in the factory - The coffee roasters will be commemorating its anniversary throughout the year with a programme of events
After a tour of the factory, which she looked thralled by, Sophie was even given some coffee beans to take away with her
Later today the Countess will also make a visit to a agricultural event, as well as visiting a centre for people with disabilities
The company supply their coffee beans and specialist teas throughout the Lake District and Cumbria.
The coffee roasters will be commemorating its anniversary throughout the year with a programme of events.
Later today the Countess will also visit a centre for people with disabilities.
