The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2016 - Issue 47 | Page 30

Great Yorkshire Show

Showcasing
the Best of
British Wool
in Harrogate

British wool, from farm to fleece,
fashion and furnishings, were the
highlights of the British Wool Marketing
Board (BWMB) stand at this year’s
Great Yorkshire Show (GYS).
» MAINTAINING BRITISH
wool as a progressive and
profitable industry is at the very
heart of the work of the BWMB.
Acting solely on behalf of UK
wool producers, it provides
the continuity and security on
which producers can depend.
Their stand in the GYS fleece
marquee – part of the hugely
popular sheep area –was a key
source of information about the
industry for both producers and
members of the public visiting
Harrogate.
The GYS, which was held
from 12-14 July, is always an
important business platform
in the UK agricultural industry
and in the BWMB’s summer
calendar. The BWMB
supported a number of the
shearing classes at this year’s
event with producers enjoying
the opportunity to discover
more about the industry, the
story of wool once it leaves
the farm and take part in
an ‘Identify the Breed’ wool
competition.
The Board’s Chief Executive,
Joe Farren and Chairman, Ian
Buchanan were on the stand
happy to meet wool producers
Joe commented:
“Securing the future of
British Wool is one of the main

objectives of the British Wool
Marketing Board. We have an
international reputation for
excellence and globally we
are seeing strong demand and
interest. To further develop
our markets we need to
ensure our processes
remain effective
and efficient and
continue to
improve wool
quality and
presentation.”
BWMB
is confident
that the GYS
provides an
ideal platform to
highlight the importance
of the BWMB’s role within
the sheep industry as well as
presenting their latest initiatives
and campaigns to a wide
audience.
Carl Stephenson, County
Durham sheep farmer and
BWMB English Northern Board
Member, said:
“The GYS is a very important
event for us and all sectors of
the sheep industry. As it did
very successfully this year,
it offers the Board a great
opportunity to meet with
producers face to face where
we can ensure they are fully

30 Aug/Sep 2016 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

informed
of the
efforts of the
Board to promote
and sell British wool to global
audiences.
“In 2015 we witnessed a
strong selling season with
minimal stock being carried
forward into the new selling
season and we were as always,
eager to highlight to our
producers the strong demand
for British Wool. We are also of
course keen to encourage best
practice as excellent fleece
presentation maximises the
value of wool to the producer.”
Because shearing is a
fundamental part of wool

production and the BWMB
supports shearers at all
levels, it supports some of the
Show’s shearing classes. The
Champion Fleece automatically
qualifies for a place in the
Board’s relaunched Golden
Fleece competition.
For many visitors to the
GYS, the Shearing Competition
provides a real showcase of the
skill, as Gareth Jones, Producer
Communications Manager
explained:
“Technical skill and speed is
the key to competitive shearing
and many of the British
competitors who took part in
this year’s competition at the
GYS will have benefitted from
the BWMB shearing courses.”