The new President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, John Stoddart-Scott has had a long association with the Society, its flagship event the Great Yorkshire Show and indeed with farming.
His earliest involvement came in 1979, when he first became a horse steward at the Great Yorkshire Show, a role he undertook for a decade. Then in 1984, he was elected a member of the Society’s Council, going on to serve on many of its committees including finance and education and then the Society’s executive committee. From 1998, for ten years, Mr Stoddart-Scott led the Society as its Chairman, particularly overseeing the development of the Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate. He handed over the role to Simon Theakston in 2008, becoming Vice Chairman.
Away from the Society, the family farm is at Arthington where his champion Creskeld Herd of British Holsteins was based. Mr Stoddart-Scott is a former High Sheriff and is a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. He is also a Governor of the Clothworkers Foundation, and Chairman of The University of Leeds Farms. In addition, he is chairman of Weetwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre.
Mr Stoddart-Scott is married to Annie, and they have three sons. Mrs Stoddart-Scott’s family has also had a long association with the Society and particularly with the Show’s equine section. Over the years, she has successfully bred, ridden and competed and is a steward for the section.