Year of the women at county show

Taking over the reins of agricultural show, to be held in September, will be show chairwoman Ali Brown, a Hampstead Norreys farmer, together with president Sally Stockings, a Wallingford-based pig business director, and show manager Laura Priestley-Cooper, who has helped out behind the scenes for four years while studying for a degree in event management.
Mrs Brown, who for 44 years at the show, initially as a teenager handing out programmes, runs a 700-acre arable farm in Hampstead Norreys, with her husband Donald and son Phil.
She said: “Seeing my name added to the roll of great farming people who have chaired the show over the years makes me very proud. It is quite a responsibility but Sally and I are very lucky that we have such an amazing team of full-time staff and volunteers behind us. Those who come to the show have no idea that it depends upon 400 volunteers who work all hours to make the event what it is.”
Sally Stockings has been breeding pigs for 25 years and is on the board of the National Pig Association.
She has headed the family pig business, employing 60 people and spread over three companies, since the death of her husband in 2010. Two of her four sons already head operations within the business and a third is at agricultural college.
Mrs Stockings said: “What is really significant for me is the educational value – thousands of people come for fun but go away with a better appreciation of farming and countryside issues.”
‘Sally and Ali’ have chosen the Newbury & District Cancer Care Trust as this year’s show charity.