New Chair ensures Moreton Show will remain in safe hands
A Cotswold farmer takes the title of Moreton Show Society Chairman once more, working with his wife and daughter-in-law, to make it a real family affair.
Steve Parkes takes the reins of Chair Moreton Show again, taking over from outgoing Chair Stuart Mace, and working with wife Lynne and daughter-in-law Jess who are integral to the Moreton Show team.
The one-day agricultural show is in great hands with Steve, as he’s not only farmed for Princess Anne, his sheep have also received the Royal seal of approval from Prince Charles.
Steve said “I feel very lucky to have been asked to be Chairman again, I must have done a good job the first time! Farming is one of the most important jobs in the world and at Moreton Show we always try highlight just how important our famers are.”
Steve was born in Charlton Kings, in Cheltenham, where his family lived for six generations. He studied agriculture at Hartpury College, and then worked as a cowman on dairy farms in Gloucestershire. He later worked on a beef farm in Uxbridge, where the M25 ran straight through the land, before returning to work in the Cotswolds at a farm in Naunton, where he first worked with Cotswold sheep and reared English Longhorn cattle. This is where Steve became involved with Cotswold sheep, little did he know, he would becoming a key member of the Cotswold Sheep Society later down the line.
Steve has worked in the agricultural industry for over half a century and is one of the country’s leading breeders of the rare ‘Cotswold Lion’ – the Cotswold sheep famed for its ‘golden fleece’.
At its peak Steve was running a flock of 30 breeding ewes, which appeared on numerous television programmes including Hidden Villages with Penelope Keith, Walking Britain’s Lost Railways with Rob Bell, Countryfile with Adam Henson, and BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today with Sybil Ruscoe. Steve has reduced his flock to 10 breeding ewes plus followers which he is always very successful with in the show season. At the 2024 Herts County Show Steve came away with 3 third’s, 3 second’s, 4 first’s, Reserve Champion Male, Champion Female and Reserve Breed Champion. Steve also owns 8 Cotswold rams which he hires out in the Autumn.
Current Chair Stuart Mace has enjoyed a wonderful reign – from 2021-22 and previously Vice Chair from 2019-2020 – and is now handing over the reins to returning Chair Steve Parkes.
Steve looks forward to working with his family and taking up the challenge of Chairmanship after the 2024 show.
Stuart welcomes the incoming Chair and reflects on his tenure, saying: “I’ve really enjoyed working with the Moreton Show team and making inroads into encouraging the younger generations of farmers to step forward. I know the Show is in great hands moving forward, welcome back to Steve!”
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Moreton-in-Marsh Agricultural and Horse Show Society is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England No. 2397134; Registered Charity No. 900122.
Registered Office: Moreton Show Office, 5 Wychwood Court, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, GL56 0JQ