Devon County Show - New Year’s Honour for Devon County Show Chairman

John Lee, the Chairman of the Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA), which organises the Devon County Show each year, has had his many contributions to farming and the rural economy recognised with an OBE in the New Year’s Honours.

Mr Lee, who farms at Shobrooke, near Crediton, has been involved with the Devon County Show for many years, as a Steward, Chief Steward and, since 2008 as Chairman of the Council of the DCAA.

He commented: “I am highly honoured and truly surprised to have received such recognition for activities, like my involvement with the Devon County Show, that have been such a normal part of my life. It has been a real pleasure to have been involved in so many organisations that I hope have brought benefit to the rural community“.

 “As with many people such activities could not have been carried out without the support of their families and it was with some sadness that I received notification of this enormous honour on the morning of my Father’s death, but I know he would have been as proud as I am”.

For the DCAA, Chief Executive Mervyn Hosking, paid tribute to Mr. Lee’s contribution:

“John has been an absolute stalwart of the Devon County Show for many years.  He is always there to be called upon, and nothing is ever too much trouble.  He is a tremendously hard worker as well as being an excellent chairman.  He deserves an honour just for his work for the Show, let alone everything else he has done for farming over the years.”

Besides his work with the Devon County Show, John Lee is probably best known for his work on behalf of young people in farming.  As Chairman of the Governors of Bicton College for ten years up to 2010, he oversaw the transformation of Bicton from a struggling land-based college to one of the most dynamic in the country with the appointment of David Henley as Principal. 

His many years of involvement with Devon YFC led to him being elected Chairman not only of the national Young Farmers movement, but also chairman of the European young farmers’ organisation, CEJA, the first and so far only British farmer to hold what is one of the most influential positions in European agriculture.

He is also playing a leading role in enabling school-children to learn more about farming, as Chairman of Farming and Countryside Education (FACE), and is a Trustee of the Devon Rural Youth Trust.

John Lee is a firm believer in the potential that farming offers the rural economy and the environment in the modern world and in the value of reconnecting farmers with the consuming public.  In that context, he chaired the Government’s Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy Group for the South-West, and was Chairman of the South West Agriculture and Rural development Programme (SWARD) and of the Rural Enterprise Gateway.

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