School children to benefit from spud-tacular education at Lincs Show 09 May

School children in Lincoln will benefit from spud-tacular competitions and exciting challenges at this year’s Lincolnshire Show as organisers increase the education offering even further.

Taking place at the Lincolnshire Showground on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 June, the Show will welcome a new Education Marquee for the first time this year, as part of ongoing efforts by organisers to educate schoolchildren about agriculture and farming.

Primary schoolchildren, including Potterhanworth Primary School and Digby School in Lincoln, have already been getting their hands dirty in a bid to grow the largest potato while six secondary schools in Lincoln will also be taking on school challenges including researching and demonstrating how the world of food and farming has changed over the years.

Jayne Southall, CEO for Lincolnshire Showground, said: “One of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s primary charitable aims is to educate people all about food and farming. Therefore it is vitally important that we not only educate children about our heritage but also get them excited and passionate about local farming and eating healthy produce.

“The Education Marquee will be a fantastic new addition to the Show, bringing with it for the first time this year the exciting Grow Your Own Potatoes competition as part of its potato story theme.

“We have already had a large amount of enthusiasm surrounding the event and it is great to see so many children excited about farming and planting their own produce.”

Sponsors of the Grow Your Own Potatoes competition and Lincolnshire-based potato supplier, Branston is delighted that the Show is teaching children of all ages about farming.

Communications manager, Jackie Baker, said: “Branston has been a keen supporter of both the Grow Your Own Potatoes initiative and the Lincolnshire Show for many years, so we’re delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the Education Marquee this year and help visitors of all ages find out all about potatoes.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the children who planted their potatoes for the Grow Your Own Potatoes competition at the Showground harvest them so we can find out how well they’ve grown.”

This year’s show has also seen the largest number of secondary schools participating in the educational challenges. From Lincoln, North Kesteven School, Lincoln Castle Academy and the Priory City of Lincoln Academy will be taking on the ‘Mission 3, 2, 1… Grow’, ‘Farming through the Ages’ and ‘My Community, My Commitment’ challenges.

Alice Mates, marketing co-ordinator and leader of the Student Leadership Team at North Kesteven School, said: “North Kesteven School is proud of its history with the Lincolnshire Show and this year at the 132nd Show, our students and staff are delighted to be participating once again.

“In the School’s Challenge, North Kesteven School will be represented for the second year running by two entries which we are very excited about! The Show provides a fantastic learning experience for our students, from the preparation and practice, through to performing in front of an audience and meeting new people. Last year we were delighted to come third in the School’s Challenge and this year we intend to come back bigger and better.”

In addition, the Education Marquee in the Discovery Zone will be open to all visitors and will include displays of the Showground’s educational work over the past few years. A chef will be rustling up a potato salad treat with the children’s freshly grown potatoes.

Families and children will be able to meet and learn about livestock at the Meet-a-Moo Marquee including interesting facts about the milk story, breeds and meat production.

Machinery Tours will also be available to those looking to learn about the magnificent machinery that farmers use across Lincolnshire.

Jayne added: “Our staff have already been busy throughout the year, visiting a number of schools to educate children about farming. Our Tractors into Schools programme has been a roaring success and Countryside Lincs returned in April to teach families about farming with over 3,000 visitors coming along for the day.’

“The show will be no different as we look to continue this success. We already have a number of schoolchildren participating in the competition and we want to encourage as many schools as possible to get involved and learn about agriculture.”

For more information about educational opportunities for children at the Lincolnshire Show, please visit http://www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk/kids-zone