Record-breaking numbers of cheeses, cattle, sheep and traders look set to help Frome Show break a few more records this Saturday.

A new country pursuits area, with its own lake will be another big attraction, giving visitors a chance to try fly-fishing and watch coracle-making while gun dogs demonstrate their talents close by. But despite the thrills of attractions such as the daredevil bikers of the UK FMX Freestyle Show, main ring show jumping, and demonstrations by experts such as celebrity chef Martin Blunos, it is cheese that gives the show its unique flavour. Farmers have been bringing their mighty truckles of cheese to market in Frome since before the Norman Conquest. In 1874 a new market hall, the "cheese and grain" building was built with its own rail siding from which thousands of tonnes of cheese were dispatched to London and other destinations over the years.

An evocative photograph from 1904 shows Frome Cheese Show pulling in the crowds when it was still held in the town's market place. Later it moved to a greenfield site, and now it is held on Frome Agricultural Society's West Woodlands showground. Dropping the word cheese from the title has emphasised its all-round celebration of food and farming but the cheese awards are still held in huge regard by the industry, at home – and abroad. Nigel Pooley, chairman of the cheese committee, and famous for his "£5 million nose", says more and more foreign cheese producers are entering. Mr Pooley is master grader at Wyke Farms, Somerset cheese producers, who insured his nose for £5 million with Lloyds of London two years ago. The show celebrates its 150th birthday next year, and this year the cheese section is celebrating its proud history by recreating the feel of the old cheese and grain building, displaying archive photographs and dressing like the Victorian and Edwardian buyers and sellers. The public has the chance to join in. Mr Pooley explains: "We usually cut the champion cheese into small pieces for people to taste, but this time we are going to cut it into kilo pieces and auction it, to help create the character of the old cheese market.

"We've got 850 classes – it's just amazing, a record by some way. It was around 700 last year. We've achieved it by introducing more classes and have quite a few continental producers showing, speciality cheese have grown of course, it's not all cheddar. We introduced retail classes some time ago and all the big supermarkets enter – and want to win."

The livestock classes are growing, with more than 300 cattle, including some which have never been in the schedule before. Look out for Brown Swiss, Longhorn and Irish Moiled.

Thanking sponsors, Cattle Section Chairman Tony Page says: "With more breed sections and classes, I look forward with eager anticipation to what I hope will be the best ever cattle show at Frome. Those who have exhibited at Frome before and those for whom it will be the first time at the show will all receive a very warm welcome and have the opportunity of exhibiting their animals in front of as many as 20,000 visitors."

There are more than 40 sheep classes, plus goat classes, always popular with family visitors, as well as poultry.

Ferret racing and dog agility will be part of the fun and visitors can also try their hand at archery, thrill to displays of falconry, and taste some of the finest local fare in the food hall.

Floral displays and craft demonstrations complete the scene.