Eco & Environment, Gillingham | Posted on April 11th, 2025 | return to news
New president for Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society
British farmer and political campaigner Baroness Minette Batters has been announced as the new president of the society.
Ahead of the next Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show on 13 and 14 August, the long-running society behind the event has announced its new president.
The Right Honourable Baroness Minette Batters, a farmer and political campaigner, has become the 86th president of the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, one of Dorset’s longest running agricultural societies.
The Baroness manages the 300-acre Barford Farm Park in Downton near Wiltshire. As a young girl, she grew up on a tenant farm and always wanted to become a farmer. She was the first female president of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU) from 2018 to 2024, and in July last year she was granted a life peerage and became a crossbench member of the House of Lords.
As president of the NFU, Baroness Batters represented the farming community at a time of great change with the impact of Brexit and the Covid pandemic.
She is a strong advocate for balanced land use and food production policies in the UK, campaigning for clear food production targets and government-backed strategies to optimise agriculture.
Upon accepting her new role as president of the society, which was merged into its current form in 1860 to support farmers in the Gillingham and Shaftesbury region, she said: “I hope I can continue the legacy of those that have been president before. They’ve all done an amazing job.”
She is most looking forward to the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show in August. She said: “It’s my local show, so I’m just feeling very privileged to be involved. In this challenging economic climate, our county shows offer great value for money and a wonderful day out for the whole family.”
The show was first held in 1930, and for the past 31 years it has been held at Turnpike Showground near Motcombe.
The August event will welcome thousands of visitors, as well as around 400 Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society members, over 1,300 livestock entries, 550 trade stands and spectacular entertainment in two rings.
To buy tickets to the rural event, visit https://gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk.
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