Westmorland County Show Future Strategy Seminar

Facilitating Future Strategy Seminar for the Westmorland County Show

Aled Rhys Jones was invited to present the findings of his Nuffield Farming Scholarship to members and officials of the Westmorland County Agricultural Society at their Future Strategy Seminar. His report stimulated thinking about the future role of agricultural societies and shows where he shared common challenges and examples of good practice from across the globe.

Aled also facilitated the seminar where the participants were divided into syndicate discussion groups to consider the vision for their society, show and showground. Topic areas included governance, committee structures, attracting youth and the next generation of volunteers, generating sponsorship, educating the wider public about food and farming, future development of the showground and marketing. Each group took it in turn to feedback the outcome of their discussions and Aled helped to capture and summarise the main themes whilst ensuring the objectives of the day were met with clear thinking, objectivity, good participation and buy-in from everyone involved.