Approximately 10,000 people visited the NFU stand over the four days.听
President Tom Bradshaw, Deputy President David Exwood, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos each visited the stand throughout the week, and NFU North Regional Chair William Maughan was amongst the many regional officeholders on hand to greet and speak to visitors.听
National and regional board chairs also attended the show.听
On Tuesday morning, Tom, William, York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith and Ripon Farm Services CEO Richard Simpson kicked off the show with a panel session discussing the challenges farmers face.听
Later that day, NFU President Tom Bradshaw held talks with Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner on stand to highlight key issues facing the farming sector.听
They were joined by Yorkshire farmers and NFU members in a roundtable discussion where senior officeholders put questions to the minster to discuss the state of the industry and plans for growth. They also discussed support for upland farmers, SFI and the importance of water for food production and abstraction.听
Engagement at every level
Roundtable meetings and events took place on stand throughout the show, including a Livestock and Dairy session on Tuesday and FCN鈥檚 30th anniversary drinks reception on Wednesday which was attended by former NFU President Baroness Minette Batters.听
On Thursday, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos hosted a discussion around mental health and physical health with Yellow Wellies鈥� Alix Morley and Friday saw the launch of a bold new vision for the uplands.听
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Over the four days, officeholders and the NFU North team met West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin, former Defra Secretary George Eustice, EFRA Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael, NFU Mutual CEO Nick Turner, Leader of East Riding and Yorkshire Council Leader Anne Handley, Baroness Anne McIntosh, York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime Jo Coles, Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate, GSC Grays, and Canon Leslie Morley and the Bishops of Ripon and Huddersfield.
MPs attending the stand to speak to officeholders and the NFU North team included Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore MP, Sir Julian Smith MP, Katie White MP, Graham Stuart MP and Anna Dixon MP.
External Affairs Manager Neeve McGinty, External Affairs Adviser Ruairi Hodges, NFU and NFU Mutual staff were on hand to help members, and the public, write to their MPs by completing Stop the Family Farm Tax postcards.
A total of 609 postcards were completed over the course of the show 鈥� postcards that the NFU will send directly to their MPs. 听
NFU North and NFU Mutual staff ensured visitors were catered for throughout the week, with teas, coffees and cake on the menu.听
Showcasing the farming community
Speaking on Tuesday, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淭he stand has been absolutely packed with members and that鈥檚 what is such a critical element of this, the connection 鈥� the ability for them to come and ask questions, for us to meet them on the stand and talk about what鈥檚 going on.
鈥淚t was good for Daniel Zeichner to come in here, meet the members and for them to ask him questions about SFI and what the future of that looks like, the challenges of drought and whether there could be any derogations. It鈥檚 been a good day and it鈥檚 been great to see so many people.鈥�
David Hall, NFU North Regional Director, said: 鈥淭he Great Yorkshire Show is a great opportunity for the farming community to showcase what it does best to the public. The event brings together the finest food producers, livestock and equine exhibitors from across the country to exhibit and compete at this prestigious event.
鈥淔or the NFU the show is an opportunity to meet with members old and new and also meet with influential stakeholders such as MPs, Mayors and Bishops, all of whom have an influence on the policy landscape.鈥�
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