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Yorkshire Agricultural Society

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) is a registered charity and membership organisation founded in 1837, best known for organising the Great Yorkshire Show, but it also works year-round to help develop an environment where farming, food and the countryside thrives and grows.

Each year, YAS invests over half a million pounds to organise educational events, promote agricultural careers, develop skills of those working in the industry, award grants and enable knowledge sharing.

YAS celebrates farming at the Great Yorkshire Show, educates children and families about farming, food and the countryside by organising its popular Springtime Live and Countryside Days events, and supports its farming networks:

  • Future Farmers of Yorkshire, helping industry professionals excel in their careers.
  • Farmer Scientist Network, finding ways for science and technology to underpin agricultural innovation.
  • Yorkshire Rural Support Network, providing and promoting help and support to farming families.
  • Women In Farming Network, offering opportunities for women to learn from and support each other.
  • Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network, championing farming and rural communities. 

YAS’s offices are based at the award-winning Regional Agricultural Centre at the 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. The Showground is also home to Fodder farm shop and café, Yorkshire Event Centre, Pavilions of Harrogate and Harrogate Caravan Park. Profits from each business helps to fund YAS’s charitable work.

Scholars Sponsored

Only most recent are listed.

  • 2024

    Tom Scrope

    I grew up on a small farm on the edge of the North York Moors. I had a bit of a potted journey back to agriculture, having studied Philosophy at university and then trained as a Chartered Accountant...

  • 2023

    Hannah Fraser

    I am a medical doctor and a first generation farmer. For the last few years I have enjoyed the simultaneous experience of life on the hospital wards and life running an organic arable farm in...

  • 2022

    Miles Middleton

    I have spent my entire life living and working within the livestock sector, primarily with dairy cattle. I have worked on the Family dairy farm but now are a full time Veterinary Surgeon working with farms
  • 2020

    Alastair Trickett

    I graduated from the University of St Andrews with an MA (Hons) in Philosophy, having grown up on a family arable farm in Yorkshire. I moved to London to work for a management consultancy, helping companies like Google, Royal Mail and Experian commercialise big data.
  • 2019

    Sarah Pick

    I grew up on a beef farm in North Yorkshire and from a young age I developed a strong interest in the agricultural industry. After graduating with a BSc in Animal Science I joined a retail graduate scheme which gave me a great insight into the sector and the importance of farmers producing a consistent product.
  • 2017

    Hugh Shedden

    I am based in North Yorkshire and a director in the family farming business. I am a second generation farmer on a farm built on pigs and potatoes. However the potatoes went by the wayside 10 years ago to make way for more cereal cropping.