Farmer lands top job at Great Yorkshire Show

The man who will lead the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live into the next decade has been announced.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Mar 2015, 18:00 BST
Photo shows left to right: Charles Mills, the in-coming Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live and Bill Cowling the current Show Director at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.Photo shows left to right: Charles Mills, the in-coming Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live and Bill Cowling the current Show Director at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.
Photo shows left to right: Charles Mills, the in-coming Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live and Bill Cowling the current Show Director at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

Charles Mills will succeed Bill Cowling as Honorary Show Director, at the close of this year’s Great Yorkshire on Thursday, July 16.

Mr Cowling is stepping down after ten years in post, though his involvement will continue, as a member of the cattle committee.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over the years Mr Mills 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.

Most Popular

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

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.

Mr Mills will shadow his predecessor during this year’s Great Yorkshire Show before accepting the crook of office in the show’s closing ceremony.

Visit www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

Related topics:Yorkshire Agricultural Society