New President for Society

The new President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, John Stoddart-Scott has had a long association with the Society, its flagship event the Great Yorkshire Show and indeed with farming.

His earliest involvement came in 1979, when he first became a horse steward at the Great Yorkshire Show, a role he undertook for a decade. Then in 1984, he was elected a member of the Society’s Council, going on to serve on many of its committees including finance and education and then the Society’s executive committee. From 1998, for ten years, Mr Stoddart-Scott led the Society as its Chairman, particularly overseeing the development of the Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate. He handed over the role to Simon Theakston in 2008, becoming Vice Chairman.

Away from the Society, the family farm is at Arthington where his champion Creskeld Herd of British Holsteins was based. Mr Stoddart-Scott is a former High Sheriff and is a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. He is also a Governor of the Clothworkers Foundation, and Chairman of The University of Leeds Farms. In addition, he is chairman of Weetwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre.

Mr Stoddart-Scott is married to Annie, and they have three sons. Mrs Stoddart-Scott’s family has also had a long association with the Society and particularly with the Show’s equine section. Over the years, she has successfully bred, ridden and competed and is a steward for the section.

ENDS

25 July 2013

Sally Wall on 01423 546218 or sallyw@yas.co.uk

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. 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. Dates for the next Countryside Live are Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October and the 2014 Great Yorkshire Show runs from Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 July. See also www.yas.co.uk and www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

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