Leaders say £67,600 sponsorship deal will secure the future of the Lincolnshire Show
Senior figures say a taxpayer-backed near-£70,000 sponsorship deal will help to secure the future of the Lincolnshire Show.
Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to be a corporate sponsor of the spectacle and provided £67,600 towards this year’s event.
The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society – which runs the event – has identified potential financial pressures with rising running costs and says the additional money will help pay for the infrastructure needed to stage the show.
County council deputy leader Rob Gibson (Reform UK – Spalding East) said: “I believe if we hadn’t contributed there was a question mark over whether the show was going to proceed or not.
“And that was not an option. The Lincolnshire Show is the highlight of the year for this area and it has to happen.
“It helps so many businesses and it’s something nice for people to come and have a look at and have a walk around all day.”
Coun Gibson went on to say that he believes that the sponsorship deal is an effective use of tax payer money.
He added: “It’s for us, for me, for the county council to show the public what we do. It helps us react and get stuff done.”
Charlotte Powell, chief executive of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, said the show costs about £1.5 million to put on.
She said: “That contribution did help to pay for the infrastructure, so we can bring new things and more exciting things to the show.
“We also want to make sure that our tickets are affordable for all our local community.”
Miss Powell said the show isn’t struggling but that the additional money will enable it to be bigger and better.
She added: “We could still deliver and it still would be a worthwhile event to do – because our event is for charity, to educate and promote agriculture – and that’s what we want to do.
“But the difference is that we can help elevate it and make it affordable for our local visitors.”
The Lincolnshire Show celebrated its 141st year and showcased the county’s food and farming industries on Wednesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 18.
More than 65,000 people were expected to attend the event over the two days.