[C]ongratulations go to the Chief Executive of the Westmorland County Agricultural Society (WCAS), Christine Knipe, who has received a Fellowship Award from the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS).
Christine, who joined the Westmorland County Agricultural Society in 2005 attended an awards ceremony at the House of Lords and was presented with her Fellowship 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.
Christine Knipe, Chief Executive of WCAS commented: “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 now 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 and is recognition of outstanding contribution by an individual to the understanding, efficiency and well-being of agriculture. It embraces not only practical farming and the development of new husbandry practices, but also research, technology, economics, education, farming care, communication and administration.
Christine’s Fellowship comes five years after she was made an Associate Fellow by the Royal Agricultural Societies and she is one of only 36 in England to receive the accolade this year. To date, just 1,200 individuals have been recognised and there are currently over 800 Fellows and over 350 Associates.
