With the season in full swing, we’ve been lucky enough to attend and sponsor a variety of events both big and small. The team always take pride in supporting and engaging with our communities and here's a look back at some of the events we've participated in, as well as a preview of what's to come.
We started the year off at the Field to Food Learning Day at the Bath and West Showground. Our Rural Services team had the pleasure of engaging with over 1400 local school children, educating them about the origins of their food. Tim Hector, our Director and Rural Surveyor, led a mock dairy cattle auction, which was a hit among the children. We were honoured to have HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh visit our activity, adding a royal touch to the day.
The big shows kicked off with our sponsorship of the North Somerset Show on the early May bank holiday. Despite challenging weather, it was a fantastic day filled with enthusiasm and community spirit. Our commitment to large-scale events continued at the Bath and West Show, where our very own Ross Whitcombe had the honour of judging cattle. This prestigious event highlighted our deep-rooted connection to rural life and agricultural excellence.
We’ve also continued our support for equestrian events, with sponsoring the Nunney Horse Trials, Mendip Plains British Eventing, and the Hannah Francis Eventing in July. The latter event raised significant funds for the Hannah Francis Wondering Wilbury Charity, a cause close to our Equestrian Team’s hearts.
Looking back at the Mid Somerset Show, which took place on August 18th, we were thrilled to have our Cooper and Tanner show unit centrally located by the main ring. It was a great opportunity to interact with attendees, showcase our services. and allowed us to continue to build on our incredibly important local business relationships. Uncle Dennis, our faithful vintage tractor was also in attendance and a big hit with young and old alike!
In addition to these major events, we have proudly supported smaller community gatherings among them being Rode Park Fest in July, the Keinton Mandeville Primary School Summer Fair, the Cheddar Summer Arts Programme, and the Horrington Primary School Circus Day. These events are a testament to our commitment to community engagement at all levels.
Nick Oliver, Cooper and Tanner’s Managing Director, expressed his enthusiasm: “We’ve been thrilled to support events both large and small this summer. It’s wonderful to get out and meet people from all corners of the West. We look forward to continuing this tradition of support and engagement.”
As we look ahead, we’re excited about the upcoming Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show in September. Not only will we return to help auction off the cheese, but as a sponsor we will be stationed by the Village Green again this year, and we’d love for everyone to stop by and say hello. And looking to the future we remain dedicated to supporting and participating in events that enrich our community and celebrate our rural heritage.