Show must go on

Support the great event online

THE GREAT Yorkshire Show is one of the defining events in our county’s calendar and whilst it is sad that the pandemic means it cannot fill the Harrogate showground with the sights and sounds of the countryside, there is every reason still to celebrate and support it.

Because the show goes on, in virtual form.

Starting today, there will be three days of non-stop events and activity on the show’s website, which is tribute to the indomitable spirit of its organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, and our county’s rural community.

The importance of the show to those who work and live in Yorkshire’s countryside cannot be overstated.

It is a forum and showcase for agriculture, a chance to tell the world about the excellence of our farmers and an opportunity for myriad traders, from manufacturers of machinery to producers of artisan food, to promote their wares.

The online show deserves the same support and enthusiasm from the public as the real thing.

For by backing it, Yorkshire backs the men and women who make our rural communities truly special and work so hard to put top-quality food on our tables.

These are hard and uncertain times for farming, and knowing that the support and respect of Yorkshire people for agriculture is unwavering can be a source of strength for all those who are earning their living in the countryside.

The Great Yorkshire Show will bounce back bigger and better than ever next year, but for now, its online presence should be treasured.