YAS Membership Newsletter - Spring 2024

Proudly at the heart of Yorkshire’s farming, food and countryside: now and forever.

Tickets are on sale now for the hugely popular Springtime Live at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Saturday 23 March, celebrating the best of food, farming and the countryside.

From pigs and goats, to ferrets and giant tortoises, youngsters can get up close to farm animals. All demonstrations and hands-on workshops are FREE. There will also be Diggerland, ride on tractors, Moo Music and crafts.

Charles Mills, Show Director, said: “This is always a sellout event bringing a taste of farming, food and the countryside to the public and we would encourage families to get their tickets now to avoid disappointment.”

Springtime Live is just one of the events and initiatives organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society as part of its role as a charity proudly at the heart of Yorkshire’s farming, food and countryside; now and forever.

Thanks to a legacy left by the late Mary Goodall, the Goodall Agri-Development Pathway is now underway. Twelve younger farmers, aged 35 and under, have started this new 12-month training programme to nurture the business skills and development of farming’s next generation.

Due to the popularity of Springtime Live, entry is by advance ticket only via springtimelive.co.uk (subject to availability). Tickets will not be available to purchase on the gate. New for this year are staggered arrival times which must be chosen when booking tickets.

Springtime Live is a charitable event, which raises funds to support the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for children or a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) is £36. Under 2s are free.

Members of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society do not get free entry to Springtime Live due to the limited capacity of the event.

A new Yorkshire Farmers Club has been launched by the Yorkshire Rural Support Network to bring people together at arranged events to tackle social isolation and loneliness in the spirit of friendship.

Education is a big priority of the Society and free teacher training courses to inspire schools to take learning outdoors this Spring Term have been a huge success. Schools will also be attending a new Milk Day at the Showground to learn about dairy, and in June, thousands of Key Stage 2 children will take part in hands on workshops and meet the animals at Countryside Days.

The countdown is now on for the 165th Great Yorkshire Show, with plans well underway for a grand celebration of the very best of farming, food and the countryside.

The best of British livestock will be competing and it is with great pride that the Show will host the World Ayrshire Federation Annual Conference which will see around 100 farmers from countries around the world attend the Show as part of a UK tour.

Main Ring performer for this year’s Show, taking place on Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 July 2024, will be the Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show who will perform jumps, tricks and multiple rolls.

There will be some of the finest in agricultural machinery on display, first class competition in the showing rings, plenty of shopping and entertainment.

This will be Charles Mills’ final GYS as Show Director. Charles will leave a lasting legacy from his nine

distinguished years in the role. At the end of the Show, Charles will be handing on the baton to Shipley dairy farmer Rachel Coates who has been appointed as the next Show Director.

Membership of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society guarantees entry to each day of the Show. As in previous years, membership numbers are capped, so if you have yet to renew your membership act now to avoid disappointment.

Members are taken into account when capping attendance numbers to the show at 35,000 people a day. Tickets are now on sale for non-members and these must be purchased in advance at: greatyorkshireshow/ticket-information

Please note last year, tickets sold out to the public in the week before the Show. The opening times are 8am to 6pm on all four days. Details of what is happening each day will be available from May at: greatyorkshireshow/whats-on

SUPPORT FOR AGRI CAREERS

Support for forward-thinking farmers, vets and other industry professionals continues apace.

Our thriving Future Farmers of Yorkshire network has started 2024 with a full progamme of activity, hosting timely training in farming-focused mental health with R.A.B.I at Ruswarp Market and financial management with Savills at the Great Yorkshire Showground. To embolden personal and professional development in agriculture, Future Farmers offers bursary places to big industry events. Mixed farmer Mike Morley attended the AHDB AgriLeader Forum and told us it had been “great

for morale”, adding “I have come back in good form looking for a challenge”.

Katie Gowthorpe (pictured), a ruminant sales specialist at Thompsons of York, completed the RABDF Entrepreneurs in Dairying course as a Future Farmers bursary recipient and it made a real impact, with Katie reporting: “This course has set me up and given me the confidence that one day I will achieve my goal of my own dairy business. In the meantime, I aim to start a business offering cattle services to local beef and dairy farms.”

Three Future Farmers attended the Oxford farming conferences including sheep farmer Alice Arnott who

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS’ PRIVILEGES

The number of guest passes will be capped for 2024 and are strictly available on a first come, first served basis.

The successful scheme giving members’ guests a special discounted package at the Great Yorkshire Show is being offered again for this year’s event. Subject to availability, members can apply for the package which will give their whole party full member’s privileges throughout the Showground for any one day.

Guests will be given a guest badge and ticket Unfortunately it is not possible to supply additional car parking passes. We suggest you arrange to meet in the Members’ Area if you are unable to travel together.

To take advantage of this offer, please call 01423 541 222 or complete the order form and return it with payment to:

Membership Department, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate HG2 8NZ before 28 June 2024

ADVICE FOR MEMBERS

• Members of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society are welcome to attend the Great Yorkshire Show on all four days, there is no need to advise us on when you plan to visit.

• Remember that you MUST bring your membership card with you to gain free entry to the Show each day.

• Members’ packs will be sent out in June and will include string badges (for entry into members areas once inside the show) and a car park pass (if applicable).

• Members Catering: In addition to the catering in the Wharfe Coffee Shop, Aire Coffee Shop and Ringside Dining Marque, bookings are being taken for a 3 course lunch in the Wharfe Restaurant, priced at £50 per person.

To book a table, please call 0113 287 6387.

• Advanced Mobility offer a wheelchair and electric scooter hire service at the Show.

Please visit: advanced-mobility.co.uk/collections/ great-yorkshire-show-2024 or call 01274 297777

• Bookings are now open for Members’ Guests.

reported the OFC was “very encouraging in driving for a gender diverse agricultural industry”, while Emma Throup attended the NFU Conference and said she met so many interesting people. Look out for details of upcoming bursaries to attend the Groundswell event in June.

Our support is for everyone, regardless of where they are in their career and life journeys, and the Yorkshire Rural Support Network has launched a new Yorkshire Farmers Club to provide sociable industry visits for the over 50s.

For all our upcoming activities see yas.co.uk

MEET THE YAS TEAM

Christine

Ryder farms in Nidderdale, is a member of the Society’s Council and Chair of YEC Ltd.

What’s your connection to farming?

I grew up on a dairy farm and on leaving school, I worked for my parents until I married Chris 37 years ago. We took on the tenancy of Scaife Hall Farm, a Yorkshire Water farm at Blubberhouses where we rear pedigree Belted Galloway cattle and have a flock of Swaledale, Blue Faced Leicester and Mule sheep.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 16 MAY 2024

Notice is hereby given that the thirty fourth Annual General Meeting of Yorkshire Agricultural Society will be held at the Pavilions of Harrogate at 2pm on Thursday 16 May 2024 for the following purposes:

AGM Business

1. Receive any apologies

2. To receive the result of the election of Members of Council

3. To receive the Report and Financial Statements including the reports of the Trustees and the Auditors for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Why do you support YAS?

I joined the Council of the Society 8 years ago, and during that time I have Chaired the Yorkshire Rural Support Network, sat on the Charitable Activities Committee and now Chair Yorkshire Event Centre Ltd. I find the work of the Society very interesting and the help and support that is offered to so many groups and organisations is amazing. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes that many people will never see but it’s all really worthwhile and the Society is so much more than just the Great Yorkshire Show.

What makes you proud to be part of what we do?

Educating people about food and farming is very rewarding. When we do events like Countryside Days with primary school children or go out judging the Vegetable Box Competition; just talking to the children and listening to them telling us about what they have learned about food and how its grown, etc. makes me feel really proud to be a part of it all.

What does the Great Yorkshire Show mean to you?

The GYS is an absolute spectacle. There’s something for everyone to see and take part in. The pride of the stockmen showing their livestock, the amazing shopping and main ring events make it a very special day, or days, out. In my opinion, it’s the best show in the country.

4. To re-appoint Azet Audit Services Ltd as auditors and to authorise the Trustees to fix their remuneration

5. Any other business

• At the close of the formal business meeting, an opportunity will be given to Members present to put forward any suggestions or ideas for consideration by Council.

By order of the Trustees, Allister Nixon, Chief Executive, 28 February 2024

If you would like to receive information of how to attend the meeting please email: helens@yas.co.uk

Important: A member has a right to appoint another person as their proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote at a members’ meeting of the Society. A proxy form can be obtained from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society office or via the website yas.co.uk/downloads

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOWGROUND