Lincolnshire Agricultural Society Celebrate 140 Years of the Lincolnshire Show

One of the UK’s biggest county events, the Lincolnshire Show, is returning this summer for the 140th time. Taking place at the Lincolnshire Showground on 18th and 19th June this year’s Show is set to be bigger and better than ever, with exciting new attractions alongside traditional favourites.

Host of the annual Show is of course the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS), dedicated to promoting food, farming, and the countryside to the county for over 150 years. Witham Group has been proud exhibitors and supporters of the Show and LAS since the 1950’s. We were delighted to catch up recently with Charlotte Powell, CEO of the LAS, to find about more about how events at the showground help the Society’s far reaching charitable activities.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ESTABLISHED?

The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society was founded in 1869, meaning we have been established for over 159 years. The Society was formed to promote and support Lincolnshire’s rich agricultural heritage. Originally created to help farmers and rural businesses share knowledge and showcase innovation, we have grown into a charity dedicated to educating and inspiring people about food, farming, and the countryside. The Lincolnshire Show, our flagship event, first took place in 1869 and has since become one of the county’s most celebrated traditions.

WHAT DOES THE LAS DO?

The work of the LAS is wide and varied. We run educational initiatives like Tractors into Schools, Farmhouse Breakfast Week and Agri Careers events, inspiring young people to learn about farming and food production. We also host major events, including the Lincolnshire Show, which welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

We host many other popular events such as the annual Lincolnshire Farming Conference, Countryside Lincs around Easter time and the Food & Gift Fair at Christmas. Based at the Showground location on the A15 just outside Lincoln, we also offer venue hire and catering for meetings, concerts and events of every size. From corporate meetings to weddings and festivals, we have a whole range of room sizes and facilities outside and inside to offer organisations.

Our passion to support the rural community continues by providing networking and development opportunities for those in the agricultural sector.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK FOR YOU?

We have a core team of 23 based at the Lincolnshire Showground, supported by volunteers, Trustees, and event staff. Our events, such as the Lincolnshire Show, also bring in hundreds of exhibitors and Stewards.

 WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?

Mainly farmers, rural businesses, and food producers who showcase their work at our events. Then we have families, schools and colleges who engage with our education programmes, along with national and local businesses and organisations who use our venue for events, conferences, and exhibitions. We are supported and provide services to the wider Lincolnshire community and also have close links to the Young Farmers Clubs of Lincolnshire who attend our events and support our mission.

WHAT IS THE ETHOS OF THE LAS?

Our mission is to educate, inspire, and celebrate all things food, farming, and the countryside. As a charity, we are committed to supporting the agricultural industry and ensuring its future by engaging the next generation, including career opportunities. Education plays a huge part of our activities.

From primary to secondary schools, colleges, universities, and beyond we host and encourage activities to learn more about agricultural and horticultural and allied industries. For example, at this year’s Lincolnshire Show Schools’ Challenge, there will be hundreds of schools taking part in ten challenges to choose from and their focus is on inspiring young people to gain a better understanding of Lincolnshire’s rich agricultural history, it’s horticulture and land-based activities.

We were also very lucky to be left a working farm in Carlton le Moorland by a lady called Sheila Trafford in 2015. Sheila’s wish was that the farm should be used “for the support and education of young people in agriculture” and this is now known as “The Trafford Fund.” After repairing and improving the farm site and property we have been able to let both the house and the land, which is now farmed in a sustainable way. As a result, the LAS trustees manage this estate for which it receives an appreciable rental income, some of which has been put towards the cost of a second Education Officer for the Society and further funds applied to help local young farmers to attend events such as the Oxford Farming Conference and attend courses like the Advanced Course in Agricultural Business Management, run by the Worshipful Company of Farmers. There have been several successful candidates for these events so far and we are hopeful of many more applicants in the future. We also can use this money to offer bursaries to specific Lincolnshire agricultural or allied industry entrepreneurs who may have a business idea that warrants support in a way we can help.

HOW HAS THE BUSINESS CHANGED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS?

We have expanded our education and outreach efforts. We are supporting more schools and helping them learn about where food comes from than ever before. The Lincolnshire Show has evolved with new attractions, reflecting modern agriculture and sustainability. We have invested in our Showground, making it a year-round venue for events beyond just agricultural ones. Today digital marketing and online engagement have played a bigger role in how we connect with the public and so we are adapting as much as possible.

After Covid, events and gatherings have been rebuilding, but we’ve seen an incredible return of visitors and exhibitors. We’ve focused on enhancing our digital presence to stay connected with our audience year-round. Rising costs in agriculture and event planning have presented challenges, but we remain committed to supporting the industry. We have carried out a review of who we are and what we do and updated our branding to connect our two businesses and bridge the gap between the Lincolnshire Showground and the work and Membership of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT CHALLENGES?

We are very mindful of the cost of living pressures impacting visitor and exhibitor participation and encouraging Schools to engage with agriculture due to their strict curriculum. The drive to become more environmentally responsible means we are ensuring our events and the Showground remain as green as possible, putting new practices and procedures in place and leading the way as a sustainable event supplier. Every day we are inspired by farmers, food producers, and rural businesses who continue to innovate and adapt, ensuring the future of agriculture in Lincolnshire and beyond. We work with a number of key partners who regularly inspire us and we are very thankful to be able to work alongside them.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW?

We are thrilled to be celebrating the 140th Lincolnshire Show this year. This milestone event will feature special initiatives and activities to further promote our flagship event, which has been a staple of the county for well over a century. The Lincolnshire Show plays a vital role in raising funds to support the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, helping us deliver our charitable objectives. The money raised enables us to provide educational opportunities, promote agricultural innovation, and inspire future generations about the importance of farming and the countryside. This long-term vision ensures that agriculture remains a key priority for years to come.

We are incredibly proud to be hosting the 140th Show for Lincolnshire and seeing the impact of our education programmes on young people’s understanding of farming Is what we love most along with bringing thousands of people together each year to celebrate Lincolnshire’s rich, diverse and rural heritage. The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society is more than just an event organiser – we are a charity committed to securing the future of food, farming, and rural communities. We welcome everyone who shares our passion to get involved, whether as a visitor, exhibitor, volunteer, or supporter.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND HOW WILL YOU ADAPT?

Our priorities are to ensure the Lincolnshire show continues to be a must attend event for all generations and to continue to strengthen and develop our education and community programmes.

We also want to grow our venue hire and events offering, ensuring the Lincolnshire Showground is used all year round. We will be investing in our site for our events and the Showground and expanding partnerships with local schools and businesses whilst enhancing our digital outreach to engage new audiences.

It’s Important that people know that by becoming a Member of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, you not only support our charitable initiatives but also gain access to exclusive benefits, event discounts, and entry to the Lincolnshire Show. Together, we can continue to educate, inspire, and champion the agricultural industry for generations to come.

For more information about the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, becoming a member and all about this year’s Lincolnshire Show please visit
www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk