Yorkshire Agricultural Society
Encyclopedia
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The society is best known as the organiser of the two annual country events, the Great Yorkshire Show
Great Yorkshire Show
The Great Yorkshire Show is an agricultural show which takes place on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the North of England annually from the second Tuesday of July until the following Thursday...
and the Countryside Live
Countryside Live
Countryside Live is the little sister event of the annual farming and rural showcase, the . Held each October at the Great Yorkshire Showground on the edge of the spa town of Harrogate, the two day event is a shop window for the farming industry and an enjoyable family day out.There are classes...
. It is committed to working for the countryside.
The Society was formed in 1837 by a group of agriculturalists at a meeting in York. Its main objective is to promote farming and rural life, particularly in the North of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The shows are held in July and October respectively, and are shop windows for the farming industry as well as enjoyable days out.
Improvements in farming are encouraged through grants which fund agriculture based research at a number of North of England universities. It also has an active education department which promotes knowledge amongst young people of the important role British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
farmers play in producing food.
Each year almost £1m is provided in support of farming and rural based initiatives. In particular, the Society’s Growing Routes programme is dedicated to encouraging young people to develop rural based businesses.