Forthcoming Great Yorkshire Show Leader Announced
The man who will lead the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live into the next decade has been announced. Charles Mills, who farms near York, will succeed Bill Cowling as Honorary Show Director, at the close of this year’s Great Yorkshire on Thursday 16 July. Bill is stepping down after ten years in post, though his involvement will continue, as a member of the cattle committee.
NB: Images available to download at the bottom of the release
Over the years Charles has held a number of roles within the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, including Joint Chief Cattle Steward and as a member of the Society’s Council, its governing body. Away from the showground, his roles include chairing the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network. The Network raises concerns and issues from the county’s rural businesses and farmers to Government.
Announcing the appointment, Society Chairman, Simon Theakston said: “I am delighted that Charles is to be our new Honorary Show Director, succeeding Bill at the close of this year’s Great Yorkshire. He will continue the Society’s strong tradition of putting agriculture and rural life at the heart of our flagship event, as well as the continued success of our autumn event, Countryside Live.”
A Yorkshireman by birth, Charles farms at Woolas Grange, Appleton Roebuck, York which is a mixed arable rotation, with a 250 ewe flock as well as a small beef finishing enterprise.
Over the years his roles within the Society have been wide ranging. He has been a member of Council since 2002, he chairs the judging panel for the annual Tye Trophy Farming Awards which promotes farming excellence coupled with conservation practices, and has been a cattle steward for the last 11 years.
He has also played a significant role in the Society’s work with young people, serving on its Grants and Education Committee and running arable workshops at the Countryside Days event for primary school children held each June. He is also a member of the management committee of the Future Farmers of Yorkshire which was set up and is run by the Society.
Closer to home he is Vice Chairman of the Ainsty (2008) Internal Drainage Board, a past President of Tadcaster and Wetherby Young Farmers and a member of both the NFU and CLA.
A first taste of his new position will come at this year’s Great Yorkshire which runs from Tuesday 14 – Thursday 16 July when he will shadow Bill before accepting the crook of office in the show’s closing ceremony.
ENDS
11 March 2015
For further information or to arrange interviews please call Judy Thompson, PR Manager, on 07903 326 170
See also: www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/html/media-centre
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1837 and is a charity dedicated to supporting the farming industry and rural life. This ranges from educational initiatives to the Society’s Nuffield Scholarships to hosting the Yorkshire Rural Support Network and Future Farmers of Yorkshire. The Society is based at the Regional Agricultural Centre, Harrogate; the RAC includes Fodder, the Society’s award winning regional food shop and café which opened in June 2009.
The Society is the organiser of the annual farming and country showcase, the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live. Both take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire and are flagship events for agriculture and rural life.
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