Bill Cowling: Reigning champion of all that’s best in agriculture

It has been a wonderful decade and has led to experiences I could not have imagined. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be escorting the Queen, Prince Charles and other royal guests around the show and that has to be the ultimate highlight.

Looking back over the years, it is clear to me that now more than ever, farmers need to be ambassadors for the industry, explaining what they do, what’s involved in rearing their animals and, most importantly, caring for the countryside.

As England’s premier agricultural show, we play an important part in that. Whether it’s showing a champion bull or an award-winning cheese, the Great Yorkshire Show is the platform for those producers to demonstrate what makes them the best and to engage directly with their customers. We are a vital bridge between producer and consumer.

And I think farmers are getting 
better at communicating with those consumers. We are not yet where we need to be but we are getting better at explaining what we do, how we do it and why we do it.

Today there is much more interest in the provenance of our food as can be seen by the number of cookery and food shows on television and media articles.

It might not seem that this is benefiting farmers but it will in the long term. As consumers become more demanding, it will help British producers who are able to demonstrate that their produce is local, good quality and that their welfare standards are high.

I believe our greatest achievement is that we are first and foremost a first class agricultural show and are acclaimed as the best in England, with huge entries of cattle (more than 1,000), over 2,000 sheep, record numbers of pigs, and almost 2,000 horses.

The support of the farming industry is tremendous, particularly as the industry has faced many challenges and uncertainties over the last decade.

There have certainly been challenges for us along the way, not least three years ago when torrential rain meant we had to curtail the show after the first day. It was a very difficult decision but it was the right decision.

Every cloud has a silver lining and good things came out of it in that we have spent around £1m in improvements to the site with the aim of making sure the show is as weatherproof as it is possible to be. And this is an ongoing programme year on year.

Animal diseases, such as avian flu in my first year as Show Director, have restricted entries in some sections from time to time but the poultry section is really strong now and we have a record number of pigeon entries this year.

Going back before my time to foot-and-mouth in 2001, a lot of doom and gloom merchants said agricultural shows would not survive but of course they have in the main.

People get a real kick out of showing livestock. There is no doubt it is good for the farming industry. It creates interest from the public and competition amongst breeders to continue to improve their animals.

The Great Yorkshire is also a super 
day out and a valuable showcase for rural life. We have the superb Food Hall and what is regarded as the best forge in the country.

Tradition is important, farriery and blacksmithing is an integral part of that and I am pleased we can help preserve it.

Another good example of how, if tradition is nurtured, it can survive and flourish, is the side saddle class which has also expanded this year.

I am also pleased with the way native cattle breeds have re-established themselves. Ten years ago, it looked 
as though continental cattle would swamp everything but that has not happened.

The native breeds have prospered because of the quality of the meat they can produce and how well they work for a more traditional type of farming.

Retailers, including Fodder, our own farm shop, are focusing on how and where the meat they sell is produced.

Looking ahead, I am sure that the strong agricultural emphasis of the show will continue.

By this time next year we will have a wonderful new exhibition centre 
which will provide new opportunities both for the show and for our events 
year round.

I am confident that the Society’s benevolence and support for elements of rural life not primarily designed to produce the largest quantities at the lowest prices will continue - it is so important that large organisations support smaller individuals, farming organisations and other charities.

England is the only UK nation without an official national show. I think the Great Yorkshire Show has become that national show and will continue to lead by example!

• Bill Cowling is the Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show and farms near Harrogate on the family farm.