Dairy farmer Rachel Coates will make history as the first female to take over the role of Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show.
First female Show Director appointed to lead Great Yorkshire Show Dairy farmer Rachel Coates will make history as the first female to take over the role of Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show. Rachel, from Shipley, West Yorkshire, will take over from Charles Mills who has been Show Director since 2016. The handover will take place immediately after this year’s Show from Tuesday July 9 to Friday July 12 – which will be the 165th Great Yorkshire Show. Rachel said:
“I am honoured to be taking over the reins as Show Director from Charles who’s done an amazing job over the last eight years. "I have been coming to the Show since I was 18 which is when I got the bug for it. My aim will be to promote the Show to the younger generations so that it continues to flourish and grow.”Charles Mills said:
“I can’t think of a better candidate to hand over the reins to and I know Rachel will take the show from strength to strength.”Rachel is a member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Council and farms a mixture of tenanted and owned land on the edge of Baildon Moor and the urban fringe. She has been part of the GYS cattle committee for a number of years and Rachel’s family have shown dairy cattle at The Great Yorkshire Show for around 15 years, winning Holstein Champion for two years running in 2023 and 2022. Rachel has worked in advertising, retail, education, and agriculture, and is currently a director of a Community Interest Company which runs her local farmer’s market. Passionate about British food, Rachel is also a member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network and enjoys volunteering at the Society’s Countryside Days for schoolchildren at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Allister Nixon, CEO of Yorkshire Agricultural Society said:
“I am absolutely delighted that following a rigorous interview and selection process Rachel has been appointed to the role of Show Director. "We wish her every success with her role and look forward to working with her to deliver future Great Yorkshire Shows.”Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Harrogate Town sign Burnley youngster on loan
Harrogate drivers urged to submit footage of dangerous driving
Popular Dog Day returns to Himalayan Garden near Ripon
New Reformer Pilates studio to open in Harrogate
Work begins on Harrogate and York RSPCA's £2m animal home
Free bike repair event returns to Valley Gardens this weekend
Harrogate trains disrupted following death on railway
Businesses urged to sign up for Harrogate's Restaurant Week
Ripon MP warns over rise in unemployment-related benefits
New children's play area opens at Otley Garden Centre
Harrogate Town sign Middlesbrough midfielder on season-long loan
Harrogate adult learners prove it's never too late to achieve GCSE success
Ashville pupils celebrate GCSE success as new Sixth Form awaits
Police warning after counterfeit cash scam in Knaresborough
Outstanding GCSE results at one of Yorkshire's only all-girls schools
Volunteers transform children's play area at Harrogate hospital
Ripon market days see 31% increase in footfall
Harrogate pupils achieve best top-grade GCSE results in four years
Harrogate High head 'enormously proud' of school's GCSE results
Three new independent businesses join Halls of Ripon
