ONE of the biggest one day agricultural events in the region now has a new chairman at the helm.

Kenton Foster a leading sheep breeder has been appointed to the top job as head of the Wensleydale Agricultural Show. The one day event attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of competitors every year to the showground on the outskirts of Leyburn.

Mr Foster, who specialises in Charollais sheep has collected many trophies and awards himself over the years for his prize winning animals. He has been a member of the Wensleydale show committee for over 20 years and says he can remember attending the show as a young boy with his father and entering exhibits in the junior handicraft classes.

He added: " I am very proud to be appointed Chairman of the Wensleydale Show. The show has been getting bigger and better year on year and although agriculture is at the heart of it we have added many other attractions that give the public a real slice of rural life."

He is a little concerned that the responsibility of being Chairman could cramp his time for exhibiting, in the past he has won the Royal Highland show and been reserve champion three times at the Great Yorkshire show, while hanging onto the title for Wensleydale's Supreme Sheep Champion for the past three years.

Mr Foster's appointment as Chairman on a two year tenure was agreed at the annual meeting of the Wensleydale Agricultural Society. Other officials elected were: Sam Bratley who now serves as President, the Vice President is Joyce Sunter

. The owner and founder of the Northallerton-based Farm Organisation Sarah Liddle is the new Vice-Chair. Ms Liddle, a former show secretary herself has a long established connection with the Wensleydale show and has been Chairman of the North Eastern Holstein Club as well as being involved with the Young Farmer’s Club.

Two of the show committee secretaries: Jenny Bowes and Tina Swainston resigned from their role and were thanked for their work and dedication to the show.

The Wensleydale show was first held in 1892, missing only a few events over the decades through war and disease as it went from strength to strength. The 2019 Show will be the 105th and will be held on Saturday August 24.

Classes this year will include Cattle, Sheep, Heavy Horses, Ponies, Carriage Driving, Retrained Racehorses, Poultry, Dry Stone Walling, Horticulture, Handicrafts & Homecrafts, Walking Sticks, Young People, Dog Show and Vintage, for more information www.wensleydaleshow.org.uk