At the beginning of the year, the show committee asked NFU Halifax Group Secretary Emily Mitchell if she would be willing to work alongside Calderdale Young Farmers and RABI to provide a Farming Hub for farmers to come and receive advice and support.
It was the first visit to the show in a long time for the NFU Halifax office and Emily and her team worked with Robert Scholefield from Calderdale Young Farmers, and his three sons, to make the concept a reality.
皇家华人Halifax team, and NFU North Assistant Environment and Land Use Adviser Abigail Teward and Yorkshire West Riding County Adviser Jennifer Costello were on hand throughout the day to chat to show attendees at the NFU tent over a cup of tea or coffee.
皇家华人tent played host to a very busy children鈥檚 area. 皇家华人Halifax agency team worked with children to create animal face masks, colour in tractor and animal pictures and take part in stick the tail on the cow and name the lamb competitions. Children were given NFU activity packs to take away.
Meanwhile, the Farming Hub area itself was a hive of activity all day, with Calderdale Young Farmers hosting sheep shearing competitions, with prize money and gifts from the NFU. There were also demonstrations of hand shearing and talks by Richard Schofield from British Wool.
Young farmers threw sponges at their peers in the stocks, and lots of attendees took part in a hurdle the sack of straw competition.
A fabulous day
Emily Mitchell, NFU Halifax Group Secretary, said: 鈥淲e had a fabulous day at the Halifax Agricultural Show. Members came and had a cup of tea, socialised, and discussed concerns.
鈥�72 Stop the Family Farm Tax postcards were completed by show attendees. People in Calderdale and the surrounding area are passionate about the intended changes - especially the young farmers in relation to how it will affect their future.
鈥淭he show itself was fantastic. The competitions in the Farming Hub area attracted a lot of interest including a Young Farmers relay sheep shearing competition. All the animal sections were very well supported and the new Pig section was a success. The heavy horses section saw a record amount of entries for the Suffolk Punches,17 in total, with owners coming from as far as Newark and Essex. It was an amazing sight.
鈥淚t was a grand day out and we would recommend that members put it on their list to attend in 2026.鈥�