The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60 | Page 27

YAMS 2019 27
• DEC/JAN 2019
YAMS hits a glorious sixth in February
THERE is an atmosphere about YAMS – the
Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show – that
is somewhat different to any other large scale
machinery event and in its first five years has
continually set new records for trade stand
numbers and visitor attendance.
‘Whatever we do it just keeps growing,’
says YAMS founder and organiser Richard
Tasker of York Auction Centre where the
show will take place once again for the sixth
year at Murton near York on Wednesday 6
February. ‘There is most definitely an appe-
tite for the show that seems unabated and
there is a feeling among many who have
taken stands over the first five years that it
could be extended to two days.’
‘Regardless of whether that happens or not,
and we will continue monitoring response
to the suggestion at this year’s YAMS, we are
delighted with the way in which the show has
become an integral part of Yorkshire and the
North of England’s show scene.’
‘For our stand holders it provides an ideal
and cost effective way of reaching and
meeting more farmers than company rep-
resentatives could visit in a day and in fact
that’s one of the main drivers behind them
wanting a second day as some have said
they cannot get to talk to everyone who
comes on to their stand in just one day.’
Yorkshire has a proud history of major
agricultural dealerships based in the county
running their own machinery shows around
the same time of year, but such is the pas-
sion for farm equipment across the county
encompassing all sectors from combinable
cropping to roots crops, livestock opera-
tions and estate woodlands and forestry
that YAMS has added substantially to the
machinery show season.
‘We have a fantastic line-up including
every single one of our leading farm ma-
chinery dealerships with the likes of Rus-
sells, Ripon Farm Services, Scrutons, Claas
Eastern, Farmstar, Brian Robinson Machinery
and Peacock & Binnington all not just taking
stands but using YAMS often as their main
launch pad for major model launches.’
The county is also the base for a myriad
of manufacturers with nationally recog-
nised companies such as Graham Edwards
Trailers, but YAMS is already much more
than purely about Yorkshire companies and
Yorkshire farmers.
‘Coach parties come from right over on
the east coast of Yorkshire in Holderness
and as far north as Cumbria, Northumber-
land and the border counties of Scotland,’
says Richard. ‘The 2018 show attendance
was way in excess of anything we had
achieved in the first four years with over
12,000 here at Murton and with over 200
trade stands. We had already received
nearly 50 new requests for trade stand
packs for 2019 by November and we are
confident this year’s trade stands will num-
ber at least 220.’
Logistics inevitably come into play as an
event grows in the way YAMS has expanded
and Richard is delighted with the way in
which York has played its part.
‘We quickly exhaust our on-site car
parking facilities on YAMS Day and we
have several other fields available close
by but the best option visitors have is in
using the Grimston Bar Park & Ride facility
just off the A64 and only a few minutes
from YAMS. There is a regular shuttle bus
service run to and from the show and the
Park & Ride throughout the day making
life much easier than hanging around
trying to find a parking space. We’ve had
this running for two years and everyone
is now aware of just how easy it makes
getting back on the road when you want
to get home, as well as ease of getting in to
the show.’
Seminar meetings with guest speakers
made their debut at YAMS last year and
Richard is in no doubt that the subject
matter will be as high profile as it is possi-
ble to be at YAMS in February.
‘We will be just weeks away from our
official leaving date from Europe and
Brexit with all its connotations is bound
to be uppermost in most minds. Clearly
none of us know what everything will
entail at present but subjects such as the
Agriculture Bill, subsidies without the Basic
Payment Scheme, grant funding and envi-
ronment land management will all be on
the agenda. We hope to have some high
ranking government officials from DEFRA
on the platform.’
It all adds up to another record break-
ing, informative, business and social
event for the 6th YAMS to be held at York
Auction Centre on Wednesday 6 February
where entry is free and there are plenty of
refreshments available.