Robert Naismith in his book “Stonehouse” states ” that prior to 1858, Dalserf and Stonehouse parishes combined to hold an annual agricultural show and in 1858 Stonehouse formed its own agricultural show.”
Further research, with the discovery of an article in the Glasgow Herald dated July 11th 1851 and with the headline banner “Stonehouse Cattle show” intimates the following.
“The first annual meeting of the Stonehouse Agricultural society for the exhibition of stock and dairy produce took place at Stonehouse on Wednesday 2nd . The weather was most favorable.”
It then goes onto describe the winners of each event . Many of the winning families are still in some of the farms to this day
It can therefore be deduced that the society could have been formed prior to the article perhaps even 1850.
Naismith ( and we assume its 1858 states that General Lockhart is the president of the society and that the committee was as follows: John Paterson, James Hutchison, James Baird, J Laurie, R Allan, J Scott and W Hamilton.
Source of information:
Robert Naismsith book “Stonehouse”, Glasgow Herald 1851.