The Royal Agricultural Society of England has promised to deliver a “cracking” event for exhibitors and visitors this year at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire in July. This is partly due to the appointment of the show’s youngest ever-honorary show director, 37 year old Mark Spencer.

Spencer, from Mapperley Plains, Nottinghamshire, is the show’s 21st honorary show director and comes from a long line of farmers. Spencer farms with his father on land purchased by his grandfather in 1939. The farm’s 60-year dairying heritage gave way to retailing direct from the farm with 25 butchery, bakery and general sales staff now selling home-reared beef and free-range eggs as well as potatoes, field vegetables and fruit.

Although young, Spencer is more than equipped to do the job; he is a county and district councilor, school governor and a former chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs where he also chaired the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

Under executive show director Peter Stovold the new management team includes Geoff Burgess, deputy executive director; Simon Frere-Cook, event presenter; and Clare Savins, livestock manager. They are all looking forward to presenting the very best in farming, food and rural life at the show this summer.