Reaseheath College celebrated victory at the Royal Cheshire Show this week when its action packed stand won the award for Best Rural Life Trade Stand.
The Nantwich college’s range of educative and entertaining displays impressed the judges, who agreed that the interactive stand showcased the best aspects of modern agriculture and rural life and was widely appealing to visitors.
Top crowd pullers included sausage and butter making by Master Butcher Gary Evans and his team from Reaseheath’s Food Centre, and learning tree climbing techniques with the college’s arboriculture experts.
Visitors were also able to meet cockroaches from Reaseheath’s zoo, tested their tractor and car driving skills on simulators, and admired the skills of floristry students as they created floral button holes. Younger visitors were attracted to Forest School activities, milked a model cow and enjoyed making model boats with members of the construction team.
There were also opportunities to drive a digger, play a travel game run by the business and event department and to take part in a science challenge run by lecturers from University Centre Reaseheath. A common theme throughout all the activities was the technical progress and innovative environmental practices within the land based industries.
Expert staff were on hand to discuss degrees, diplomas, apprenticeships and adult courses, while members of Reaseheath’s Business Hub team were kept busy offering advice and support to local companies and entrepreneurs.
The Royal Cheshire Show also offered a superb opportunity for Reaseheath’s many successful alumni to visit the stand and celebrate the college’s 100th birthday. Current members of the college’s Student Association used the occasion to raise funds for this year’s RAG (Raising and Giving) charity, Hope House Children’s Hospices.
Stand organiser Stephanie Owen said: “It was a great honour to be awarded a top award at such a prestigious show. I’d like to pay tribute to the phenomenal effort and team work put in by Reaseheath staff and students, all of whom contributed to the success of the college stand.
“The Royal Cheshire Show gives us a fantastic opportunity to support the food and farming community, to showcase the talents of our students and to demonstrate the range of vocational courses we offer. “
Honorary judge Inger Trevor-Barnston, who judged the trade section with husband Michael, the show’s Deputy President, said: “Reaseheath’s stand was outstanding in the way it showcased so many different aspects of country life and particularly the incredible technology which now exists throughout the land-based sector.
“We were also very impressed with the inviting layout of the stand, the knowledgeable and welcoming staff and the wide variety of things to do for all ages.”
