THE chief executive of the Westmorland County Agricultural Society was commended for her leadership and community work, receiving a fellowship Award from the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS).

Christine Knipe, who joined the Westmorland County Agricultural Society in 2005, attended an awards ceremony at the House of Lords to collect the prize.

She was presented with her certificate by Mr Jim Godfrey OBE, President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England at a reception hosted by Baroness Hazel Byford on 7 March 2018.

Mrs Knipe said: "I am delighted to receive the Fellowship Award and would like to take this opportunity to thank the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies."

CARAS acknowledged Christine’s contribution to the farming and agricultural industry and her leadership of the Westmorland Agricultural Society and the Westmorland County Show, which is considered to be one of the best one day shows in the UK.

CARAS also acknowledged that education is a key objective for WCAS with numerous events held on the showground at Crooklands for local primary school children.

A Farm to Fork Road Show has been thoughtfully developed that visits urban communities in North West England and recently visited a school in the centre of Manchester to help the pupils understand where their food comes that resulted in a resounding success.

For the last two years Christine has been the chairman of the National Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations and is also the secretary of the North West Federation of Shows.

As a farmer’s wife she is very much part of the farming community in north west England and the reputation of Westmorland Agricultural Society and the county show continues to grow and strengthen.

The fellowship is the most senior Award of the Council. Christine’s fellowship comes five years after she was made an associate fellow by the Royal Agricultural Societies.