New President brings
Hope to Hope Show
Hope Morris is the
first lady President for Hope Show in its 150 year history and with her passion
for livestock, the agricultural focus of the show goes from strength to
strength.
Hope Show is renowned amongst farming
communities for its record sheep and cattle entries and for the outstanding
quality of the livestock exhibited. More recently, the livestock classes have
been extended to include poultry and pigs.
Hope will be setting her sights on
another successful year for the sheep dog trials, the Shire horses and the show
jumping. New to the show this year is
the Food Festival.
Hope partners her husband Angus
looking after their flock of pedigree Derbyshire Gritstone sheep high up on
Chinley Churn on the western foothills of Kinder Scout.
She explains her connection with Hope
Show began over thirty years ago:
“Angus and I had always been involved
with our local shows when we were growing up so we went to Hope Show with our
young children. We volunteered to help with the stewarding and then Angus
founded the North Country Cheviot classes. In 2006 I became Livestock
Secretary.”
Hope Show is home to the Champion of
the Champions classes for both local Derbyshire breeds, the Derbyshire
Gritstones and the White Faced Woodlands.
Hope says:
“We always have a really good turnout
of hill sheep at Hope because it is the time of year when farmers are gathering
for the autumn sales. It is a celebration of the end of the summer and it is a
chance for the farming community to come together before the winter.”
Hope was voted the Show’s first lady
president at the AGM earlier this month and she is already looking forward to
show day on August Bank Holiday Monday.
To recognise the part played by women
during the show's history and in the local and farming communities, Hope is
asking the organisers of all the show day activities to commemorate this
especial year in their own way.
In previous years, Hope’s show day
commitments as Livestock Secretary meant she has missed most of the judging
action. This year will be the opportunity for her to see every aspect of the
Show’s varied programme at first hand.
“It will be great fun to have the opportunity
to be part of the show and relax with everyone that I know without having to do
all the hard work! I will be able to see some of the wonderful classes at the
Show which I have never had the time to watch before,” Hope says.
Hope and Angus have taken the time to
visit other shows over the last years to look for new ideas. It has convinced
her that Hope Show really is unique.
“Hope Show has such a wonderful
setting with the backdrop of Mam Tor and Lose-hill. There is so much for
everyone to enjoy and it is so well supported.”
The team at Hope Show welcome everyone
to the Show Ground at Marsh Farm near Hope on Monday 31st August 2015.
