LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW NEWCOMERS CELEBRATE A SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR AT THE SHOW
30 June 2023, Behind the scenes News from our friends
THOUSANDS descended on the Lincolnshire Showground last week as The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS) welcomed back one of the county’s most beloved events, The Lincolnshire Show.
Now in its 138th year, the two-day event took place under blue skies, welcoming 3,000 more visitors than last year, with 4,500 school children, and over 500 exhibitors.
The society is proud to be educating the county about food, farming and a sustainable environment and as such recognise the hard work of everyone partaking in the Lincolnshire Show through a number of trade awards presented throughout the Show.
All exhibitors are automatically eligible for the awards and this years were carefully chosen by a number of judges who had the hard task of selecting only a few. From these selections LAS president, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Toby Dennis, then had the pleasure of selecting who won the ‘Overall Trade Awards’.
This year’s winner of The Hugh Bourn Trophy, which celebrates the best overall trade stands or exhibits at the Show, was awarded to newcomers Nunny’s Farm. The reserve prize went to Tiffin & Co Bakehouse winning The Witham Group Cup.
Shannon from Tiffin & Co Bakehouse said: “We were so pleased to have been awarded best food court exhibit at this year’s Show, there's always so much competition within our industry so to be recognised for our efforts after a really busy few weeks was very rewarding."
Shannon Continued: "We were then very surprised to receive the The Witham Group cup award as the reserve winners for best trade stand at the show as well, the awards are now proudly displayed in our shop in Sleaford, as a small business who have been trading less than 3 years winning these awards is a real achievement."
"The Lincolnshire show is one of our favourite events and it just seems to get bigger & better year on year. We would also like to congratulate Nunny’s Farm as the overall winner.”
Nunny’s Farm is a petting farm near the Nunsthorpe Estate in Grimsby. Founded by Neil Campbell and Joanna Holbrook-Morris, who used to work in the criminal justice system, set up the urban farm to provide visitors with opportunities to improve their health and well-being by accessing animals and nature within their local area.
When asked about their time at the Lincolnshire Show, Joanna said: “We had a fabulous time! We absolutely want to return next year. The first event is always a bit daunting, but now we have been once and have already started planning for the event”.
The business has been built up by volunteers, and a small team of staff since 2019 and officially opened in April 2021, after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the opening. It is now open 7 days a week 10am – 5pm, April-October. Entry is kept low at £3.50 per person, to ensure that cost doesn’t create a barrier for visitors. As a not-for-profit organisation the farm uses the income generated from admission costs to develop the services and improve the facilities.
The farm provides a safe and secure environment where visitors can feed, pet, and even walk animals. Many of the animals have been rescued, donated, or have come to retire at the farm. There is everything you would expect from rabbits & guinea pigs to alpacas and highland cows. Visitors can also enjoy coffee and cake in a plant-based tearoom, whilst enjoying a little slice of the countryside.
Joanna continued: “The team really enjoyed working at the show, they all care for the animals, and being able to share that with the visitors who stopped by was so rewarding. When we were told that we’d being chosen and received The Gamekeepers Cup, as winners of the Countryside Area we were just so shocked. Then when Chief Steward of Trade, Chris Godson returned to notify us that the President had chosen us as the overall trade winner, we couldn’t believe it! There were tears of joy, and it was very overwhelming to be recognised in that way at our first ever show. Just incredible.”
The farm aims to be accessible to all and one of its main focuses is to provide an alternative option to students struggling with mainstream education or who are on the edge of criminality. The bespoke programme looks at behavior, support SEMH and where possible create pathways back into education. Nunny’s Farm also provides opportunities for volunteering, community payback, CSR, work-experience as well as supporting children and young people who struggle in mainstream education.
Nunny’s Farm holds various events throughout the year. A teddy bears picnic is planned for July, Peppa & George Pig in August and a special reading of The Gruffalo story with Makaton signing. Cinderella will be visiting on her pumpkin carriage during Halloween, and to close the year Farmer Christmas will visit on his tractor sleigh.
To enable the farm to remain open throughout the winter the next project will be a fit-for-purpose visitors building. If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact Joanna@nunnysfarmcic.org or visit www.nunnysfarmcic.org | http://easydonate.org/NFCARE1 for further information.
A full list of the Trade Awards can be seen below:
Overall Trade Awards
Judge: LAS President 2023 – M T Dennis
- The Hugh Bourn Trophy – Nunny’s Farm
- The Witham Group Cup – Tiffin & Co Bakehouse
Agriculture Exhibits
- The Omex Challenge Cup – Lincolnshire Machinery Ring
- The “Leverton” Perpetual Challenge Cup – Peacock & Binnington
- The “Gordon H White” Perpetual Challenge Cup – S&K Sprayers
- The Sir Joseph Nickerson Perpetual Memorial Cup – Witham Oil & Paint
- The J R Ranby Memorial Trophy – Boston Crop Sprayers
Non-Agricultural Exhibits
- The Perpetual Challenge Cup – Duckworth Motor Group
- The “Constance Eastwood” Challenge Cup – Lincolnshire Cooperative Ltd
- The Ransom Cup – Zenscape
Agricultural Machinery Exhibits
- The Gordon Spratt Perpetual Memorial Trophy – T.C. Harrison JCB
Countryside Awards
- The Gamekeeper Cup – Nunny’s Farm
New, Improved or Adapted Agricultural Appliance, Contrivances or Ideas
- The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society Award – Burdens Group Ltd
Food Court
- The Oscar C Brown Perpetual Challenge Cup – Tiffin & Co Bakehouse
The Mews
- The Geoffrey Barford Perpetual Challenge Trophy – Jane Haigh Country Art
The Discovery Zone
- The Woldmarsh Cup – Nature Nurture Forest School
