SEM field trip to The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate.
As part of efforts to raise awareness about rural farming and animal husbandry, SEM with the support of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), arranged a field trip on July 16th, 2026, to this year’s Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate for a group of elderly Pakistani men and young people from the Jamia Masjid Ghausia (JMG) in Sheffield.
The Great Yorkshire Show is one of the biggest attractions in the country, and this was the 167th attracting thousands of people showcasing all kind of breeds of livestock and with other agricultural items and equipment on display.
The Chair of SEM, Mr Mahmood Hussain, described the visit as intergenerational as included participants many of who were born in the rural countryside back in Pakistan and who have lived in Sheffield for over 50 years, yet this was their first visit to the Great Yorkshire Show.
Mr Hussain who was born and grew up in Pakistan described the trip as bringing together the older and younger members of the community, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the many attractions the Show offered. He noted growing up in rural Pakistani many of the men had farms, reared livestock before relocating to England. The young people on the other hand, did not have this kind of rural upbringing. The visit therefore afforded the opportunity for the older generation to reconnect with their rural roots and to re-live childhood memories but also share their lived experience of farming and livestock rearing with the younger participants.
They watched impressive cattle and horse displays and explored the wide variety of sheep, cows, goats and other farm animals on display. For many of the older participants, the visit brought back fond memories of their farming backgrounds. They shared their experiences and stories with the younger generation, creating meaningful conversations and strengthening the bond between the generations.
They also explored the many stalls showcasing leather and sheepskin products, items that many people use in everyday life. One of the highlights of the day was watching a traditional sheep shearing competition. It was fascinating to see the skill and speed involved, with competitors aiming to remove the entire fleece in a single piece without causing harm to the sheep.
The visit was both educational and enjoyable, giving everyone greater appreciation of farming, rural life and the importance of preserving these traditions while bringing generations together.
JMG express its thanks to Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM from SEM and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) for their valued partnership and generous support in making this visit possible. Their continued commitment to bringing communities together through educational and environmental initiatives is appreciated.
Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM, CEO of SEM who accompanied the group noted that strong partnership working with YAS has been fundamental in helping SEM take people from minoritised communities to attend the yearly Great Yorkshire Show which is one of the greatest attractions in the country. He noted that creating these opportunities raises awareness about the importance of farming such as food growing and animal husbandry which is fundamental to the UK economy. People from minoritised communities consume lots of diary products and it is important for them to understand the importance of sustainable farming and the challenges faced by farmers in these times of increasing climate change and nature decline. Dr Ayamba noted farming is still not a profession among minoritised communities in the UK although having spoken to many people the data show that they are interested in farming.
Below is a video clip of about the feedback from some of the men