County Show celebrates award (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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County Show celebrates award
9:00am Friday 24th October 2008 in Search
WCAS chief executive Christine Knipe (L) with Roger Mason, Heaves Farm, WCAS chairman Judith Buckley, with award.
ORGANISERS of one of the country’s largest agricultural shows are celebrating after their efforts in the farming community were rewarded.
Westmorland County Agricultural Society, based at Lane Farm, Crooklands, near Kendal, has been named winner of the Innovative Learning Award at the prestigious Bayer CropScience and FACE awards ceremony at Kensington Roof Gardens in London.
The event celebrated farming education and the award was presented in recognition of the society’s Farm Open Days for primary school children, which have been held at Heaves Farm, Levens, run by the Mason family, since 1995.
Christine Knipe, chief executive of the society, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award, which is recognition for the commitment given by our huge army of volunteers, without whom the Farm Open Days could not run. “Over the years the events have developed into the fun and educational experience they are now.”
At the open days, children are given an insight in to life on a traditional working farm, where society members talk to them about everything from sheep shearing to dry stone walling.
Each school leaves with “goodie bags” packed with follow up resources and suggested lesson plans. Now in its second year, the awards are organised by FACE, or Farming and Countryside Education, and leading crop science company Bayer CropScience.
The judging panel, headed by Janet Hickinbottom of FACE, said that the society had shown it was keen to ensure children knew and understood the link between food production, farming and the environment.
Roger Mason, from the farm, also attended the presentation ceremony.
He said: “The awards were an amazing experience. Just like the Oscars. It really makes you feel as if all the hard work is worthwhile. The children have a fantastic time when they are here and we receive lots of letters and photos afterwards showing just what they have learned.” Mrs Knipe added: “We work hard to ensure it is as easy as possible for schools to be able to attend, paying for and arranging all the transport and carrying out risk assessments and so on. “Faced with ever-increasing costs we were very fortunate this year that the event was supported by the Cumberland Building Society, which was much appreciated.”
