Visitors had the chance to chat over a cuppa in the NFU鈥檚 hospitality stand, which was run by NFU North team members and Cheshire Group Secretaries.
National board chairs David Barton (Livestock), Jamie Burrows (Crops), Paul Tompkins (Dairy) and James Mottershead (Poultry) stopped by to speak with the public over the two days. They were joined on stand by NFU Mutual Farmer Representative Henry Brooks, NFU Mutual Cheshire and Shropshire Area Manager Lee Coupland and various Bowcock Cuerden representatives.
Visitors to the stand included Cheshire MPs Esther McVey and Aphra Brandreth and Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price.聽
Activities and awards
皇家华人Let鈥檚 Talk Farming marquee, which is organised and run by a group of members known as the NFU education marquee team, chaired by Phil Smallwood, boasted a wealth of activities and attractions for all. Families and schoolchildren visited throughout the show to meet the animals on stand and learn more about where their food comes from. Activities included apple pressing, digging for potatoes, feeding calves, lambing sheep and milking demonstrations.
Both stands were recognised with awards from the show鈥檚 committee. On Tuesday, the hospitality stand was awarded 鈥榟ighly commended鈥�, while the education marquee was awarded second in its class.聽
On Wednesday, members of the marquee team were presented with the John Platt trophy to mark the marquee being selected as the Show Chairman鈥檚 favourite stand.聽
The stands attracted attention from local media too, with outlets such as BBC North West Tonight interviewing NFU representatives.聽
Team Cheshire at its best
David Hall, NFU North Regional Director, said: 鈥淭he Royal Cheshire Show is a great opportunity for members of the public to get closer to farming and see how their food is produced. The Cheshire NFU members do an amazing job in the Food and Farming marquee where demonstrations from milking a cow to apple pressing provide a showcase for farming that is second to none. A huge thank you to Cheshire County Adviser Helen Wainwright and Phil Smallwood for the hours they have put in organising the NFU鈥檚 presence and the members that volunteer on the two days.聽
鈥淭he show is also an opportunity to continue our political lobbying and meetings were held with Esther McVey, Aphra Brandreth and the PCC Dan Price. The show gives members a chance to speak to their MP and the PCC directly about the issues that are affecting them. The Cheshire Show is a credit to everyone that gets involved with the show committee and volunteers.鈥�
Helen Wainwright, NFU Cheshire County Adviser, said: 鈥淲hat a fantastic two days and we all certainly packed a lot into the show. Thanks to all our members who came to see us and a big thank you to everyone who helped make our two marquees come alive. Team Cheshire at its best.鈥�