A NORTH Yorkshire animal feeds business played host to a party of 66 international farming professionals.

The group from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand visited family-owned I’Anson’s of Masham as part of a nationwide tour of some of the UK’s most successful agricultural businesses.

They visited ahead of the International Farm Management Association’s (IFMA) annual congress in Edinburgh.

Chris I’Anson, managing director, said: “The IFMA congress is a fantastic opportunity for farming professionals from all over the world to get together and share best practice.

“It was an honour to be chosen as one of the places to visit.

“I hope we managed to give our visitors a sense of the combination of tradition and innovation our business prides itself on.”

Richard Cooksley, IFMA secretary and tour organiser, said: “I’Anson is a shining example of the best of Britain and goes to show what can be achieved by family-run businesses if they consistently deliver a high quality product.

“The visitors were afforded a real insight into the company and left full of praise for their approach.”

The visitors also toured university departments, dairy plants, the Land Rover production facility and a Christmas tree plantation.

One of the UK’s most successful specialist suppliers of farm feeds, micronized ingredients and horse feeds, I’Anson has customers in more than 30 countries worldwide.

It is a fourth generation, family-owned and managed company.