Thousands of people turned out across the Harrogate district today to support the Knaresborough tractor run.
The event, which is believed to be Britain’s biggest tractor run, has become one of the district’s most popular annual events.
Almost 400 tractors, including some vintage open station models with hardy drivers braving the elements, tooted their horns, waved and revved their engines to the delight of the crowds.
Organised by Knaresborough Young Farmers, the event raises money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Tractors set off just after 9am from the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and headed to Ripley and Knaresborough.
Today’s start at the showground.
The convoy then passed Staveley, Burton Leonard and Markington, Bishop Thornton and Glasshouses before stopping in Pateley Bridge for lunch.
The drivers and passengers then continued to Bewerley, Dacre, Darley, Birstwith and Hampsthwaite before finishing in Knaresborough late this afternoon.
The organisers arranged live tracking of the front and back tractors for the first time, which led to some scammers posting a link online asking people to give bank details to follow a live stream.
Some people reported losses before the organisers deleted the links and issued warnings not to use them.
The number of tractors taking part and the sum raised has yet to be confirmed but the event appears to have been another big success.
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Hot Seat: Building a £117m business in Ripon over 40 years
In 1982, Geoff Brown and four colleagues started a modest agricultural machinery business called Ripon Farm Services.
The firm, which took on John Deere and Land Rover franchises, began with 19 members of staff and budgeted to generate £1.1 million in its first year.
Now, as the company celebrates its 40th anniversary, it has 270 staff, 12 depots and recorded turnover of £117.2 million for the financial year ending January 31, 2021 — significantly up on the £106.4 million figure for the previous year.
Ripon Farm Services, which is based on Dallamires Lane in Ripon, has become one of the Harrogate district’s biggest and best known employers. It supplies a wide range of new and used equipment from franchises including John Deere, Kuhn, Bailey, Kramer and Stihl.
Mr Brown (left) and a colleague alongside a John Deere tractor.
Mr Brown, who was brought up on a farm and has lived in Burnt Yates all his life, has been at the helm throughout the company’s existence.
Now 76, he remains a director and is keen to drive the business forward for “a while yet”. He adds:
“While I’m OK I will carry on.”
Brexit and Prince Charles
The last 12 months have been hectic, dealing not only with covid but also the impact of Brexit, which has had major repercussions for agriculture.
He also met Prince Charles — not for the first time — at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show, where Ripon Farm Services always has a big presence.
The two men chatted amiably for some time. Mr Brown says:
“Somebody asked how did I make him laugh. I said I just talked to him. He knows a lot about farming and machinery. I met him previously at the Pateley show. He’s a very down to earth fella.”
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Mr Brown admits the company benefited from the backwind that British agriculture enjoyed in the 1980s and 1990s but thriving over four decades is testimony to far more than luck. He says:
“It’s just been steady growth since we started.”
Ripon Farm Services at the Great Yorkshire Show
61-year career
Mr Brown’s working life spans a remarkable 61 years. He started in 1961 at Glovers of Ripon, a car and agricultural machinery dealer.
Glovers was taken over by Appleyards in 1965, which lost the Massey Ferguson franchise the following year and consequently took on one of the first John Deere dealerships in the UK.
In 1966 Mr Brown was promoted to John Deere demonstrator at Appleyards.
Geoff Brown at Ripon Farm Services’ New Year Show last month.
When Appleyards sold its agricultural business in 1982 — something Mr Brown heard about when he was setting up the stand at the Great Yorkshire Show — it paved the way for something new.
So by October than year Mr Brown, along with Maurice Hymas, Bill Houseman and two other directors, had set-up Ripon Farm Services.
Selling Land Rover
Regrets? Just a few. The company sold its Land Rover franchise in 2016. Mr Brown says:
“They wanted us to move to Harrogate or Knaresborough and sell Jaguars but I didn’t want to do either of those things and now, ironically, they have relented and dealers don’t have to sell Jaguars.”
Ripon Farm Services continues to be synonymous with the distinctive John Deere green. It’s a truly international set-up: a British firm, selling American machinery all around the world. Mr Brown says:
“We export a lot of tractors and combine harvesters. Our biggest overseas markets are Poland and Spain.”
He acknowledges Brexit has caused some bumps but “it hasn’t stopped us”.
British farmers still face uncertainty about what payments will replace the loss of EU subsidies but Mr Brown remains optimistic about the future for farmers:
“As long as the government looks after them and gets something in place of the grants I can’t see it being a problem. The good ones will still be around.”
Ripon Farm Services has received planning permission to build a 22,000 sq ft depot at Eden Business Park near Malton.
It will be the 12th depot owned by Ripon Farm Services, which is one of the largest agricultural equipment dealers in the UK.
The company, which employs more than 250 staff, is a John Deere main dealer that supplies agricultural machinery brands such as, Kramer telehandlers, Kuhn cultivation equipment, Bailey Trailers and Sumo cultivators across Yorkshire, Teesside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Construction on the new building will begin immediately, with completion scheduled for August next year.
Richard Simpson, commercial director at Ripon Farm Services, said:
“This is a tremendously important move for us and a significant milestone in our 40-year-old history.
“Our new flagship building, will feature offices, training suites and meeting facilities for staff and customers and has been specially designed to accommodate our rapidly growing combine harvester business, including the John Deere X9.
“We are especially pleased to be moving to Malton, which has the enviable – and entirely justified – reputation as the food capital of the north. It is at the centre of North Yorkshire’s extensive agricultural community, which we are looking forward to serving.”
Funding for this new depot was by provided by HSBC.
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Ripon’s tractor boss celebrates 60 years in agriculture
Ripon Farm Services managing director Geoff Brown has seen huge changes in farming machinery over the past 60 years.
Mr Brown began his career in 1961, back when tractors still ran on petrol and were not even four-wheeled drive.
This year the company showed the world’s largest combine harvester at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Mr Brown started as a 16-year-old apprentice at car and agricultural machinery dealers Glovers of Ripon.
He worked for the Appleyard Group as its John Deere demonstrator before forming Ripon Farm Services in 1982 alongside local businessmen Maurice Hymas and Bill Houseman.
World’s largest combine harvester at this year’s GYS.
The company has grown to become one of the biggest in Ripon, employing 260 employees people and having a turnover of over £100m.
It is now the UK’s largest John Deere dealership with 11 depots and groundscare machinery departments.
Read more:
Mr Brown said:
Ripon Farm Services increases revenue to £117m“I’ve seen many changes, both in the world in general and in farming in particular, but the values that I’ve followed throughout my career – hard work and an unwavering commitment to the very best customer service – have remained the same. Many of our customers are also long-standing friends.
“I’ve taken great pride in the success of Ripon Farm Services, which I founded with friends and fellow businessmen in 1982. I’ve watched the company grow from a small concern to one of the biggest employers in the Ripon area, with some 260 staff and a turnover of more than £100m.
“This gives me tremendous pleasure, but I would stress that the success of Ripon Farm Services is down to the loyal and committed staff we have employed over the years. They have been the bedrock of this company and their dedication and expertise is second to none.”
Ripon Farm Services increased revenue and profit in the last financial year despite covid, according to newly published accounts.
The company, which employs 270 staff, grew revenue by 10 per cent from £106.6m to £117.2m.
Gross profit went up by seven percent from £13.1m to £13.9m
The details are contained in the company’s annual report and financial statement for the financial year ending January 31, 2021, which has just been published on the Companies House website.
Ripon Farm Services, which is based on Dallamires Lane in Ripon, sells and services agricultural machinery and accessories as well as provides paint and body shop services. Its major supplier is John Deere.
‘Grateful for furlough’
The report says the company’s paint and body shop services were “significantly impacted” by covid due to the reduction in road traffic.
It adds directors were “grateful” for furlough minimising the impact of coronavirus and protecting jobs.
Director Geoffrey Brown said in the report that sales grew “despite a reduction in the agricultural vehicle market”.
He adds the economic impact of covid on the agricultural sector “has not been as significant as other sectors”.
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The company has also benefited from John Deere having a “strong comprehensive portfolio of products and continues to have the largest market share in the UK and globally”, according to the report.
The directors of Ripon Farm Services are listed in the report as Stewart Hymas, Paul Brown, Geoffrey Brown and Joseph Widdup.