Event starts countdown to Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Show

by John Plummer

| 01 May, 2025

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Aberdeen Angus bull Tree Bridge Joiner with handler David Evans, show director Rachel Coates (front), YAS president Geoff Brown (back), Joe Seels, Christine Talbot and YAS chief executive Allister Nixon.

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The latest tractors, an Aberdeen Angus bull and some famous faces joined forces today (May 1) to launch the countdown to this year’s Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

The 166th show, which will be held from Tuesday 8 July to Friday 11 July, attracts 140,000 visitors over four days. More than 8,500 animals will be exhibited.

The show will host five national breed shows, with Aberdeen Angus, Longhorn and Charolais cattle and Zwartbles and Kerry Hills in the sheep section.

To mark the presidency of Geoff Brown, chairman of Ripon Farm Services, two of the latest John Deere tractors that will be on display at the show took up prime position in the main ring,

New to the equine rings this year are Suffolk Punch, the heavy draught horses from that county which are always chesnut in colour and are classified as a critically endangered breed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. For the first time, the show also welcomes British Miniature horses, bred to resemble quality riding horses but standing only 87cm high.

This year will also see a new GYS app and a new YouTube series focussing on some of the exhibitors and contributors.

The YouTube series Great Yorkshire Show: Behind the Scenes will see TV presenters Christine Talbot, Jon Mitchell and Duncan Wood joined by farming YouTuber and TikTok star Joe Seels as they meet some of the farmers and exhibitors as they prepare for, and compete in, the show.

Rachel Coates, who succeeded Charles Mills as show director after last year’s event, said:

I am thrilled to be heading into my first show which will feature traditional favourites as well as some new additions. The five national breed shows this year across sheep and cattle really reflects the prestige of the Great Yorkshire Show.

Allister Nixon, chief executive of Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which organises the show said:

The countdown is officially on for the Great Yorkshire Show our flagship event, organised by our charity – the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. While we work throughout the year to support the industry, it’s all brought together in four days, for our visitors to compete, celebrate and socialise while promoting the vital work of farmers.