Great Yorkshire Show appoints first female director

Rachel Coates farms land on the edge of Baildon Moor north of Bradford

A woman will be appointed as director of the Great Yorkshire Show for the first time in its 186-year history.

Dairy farmer Rachel Coates is to take over from Charles Mills, who has been show director since 2016.

The handover will take place immediately after this year's event in Harrogate, which will be the 165th time the show has taken place.

Ms Coates, from Shipley in West Yorkshire, said she was "honoured to be taking over the reins".

She praised Mr Mills, saying he had done "an amazing job" during his time as director.

"I have been coming to the show since I was 18, which is when I got the bug for it," she said.

The Great Yorkshire Show features competitions to crown the champion cattle, sheep, pigs and horses

Ms Coates said her aim would be to promote the show, became permanently based at the Harrogate Showground in 1951, to the "younger generations so that it continues to flourish and grow".

Mr 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."

A spokesperson for the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) said Ms Coates had been part of its cattle committee for several years and her family had shown dairy cattle there for about 15 years, winning Holstein Champion in 2023 and 2022.

The show includes exhibitions and displays of agriculture, farming and food and drink

Allister Nixon, CEO of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), 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 shows."

The GYS features exhibitions and displays of agriculture, farming and food and drink. Among the highlights are the competitions to crown the champion cattle, sheep, pigs and horses.

Rachel Coates said Charles Mills had been an "amazing" show director

It began after a group of leading agriculturalists, led by the third Earl Spencer, met at the Black Swan Hotel in York in 1837, to discuss the future of the farming industry.

They decided to form the YAS to improve and develop agriculture and organise an annual show.

The first show was held in Fulford, York, in 1838. It then moved to different showgrounds around the region, before the decision was taken in 1950 to build a permanent showground in Harrogate.

This year's GYS is scheduled to take place at the Harrogate Showground from Tuesday 9 July to Friday 12 July.