Budding young growers from across the county came together at the 165th Great Yorkshire Show to celebrate the grand finale of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s School Vegetable Box Competition 2024.
This annual celebration to encourage primary school children to learn more about growing and eating healthy produce is always a joy for the Society.
The competition opens for entries in the autumn term and participating schools receive a flat pack growing box to assemble, some seeds and a growing guide to get them started.
And the results are amazing!
Participating schools often tell us of the transformative impact that growing has on their pupils, boosting their confidence and empowering them with positive responsibilities whilst learning about how to eat healthily, and this year’s competition was no different.
A grand celebration
On Wednesday 10th July, 12 finalists from across Yorkshire were invited to the Great Yorkshire Show where their veg boxes and growing diaries charting their growing journeys went on display to visitors in the Discovery Zone.
Children and teachers gathered for a celebration ceremony at the Garden Show stage with Chief Garden Show Steward Martin Fish and Yorkshire Agricultural Society CEO Allister Nixon.
There was a great atmosphere as school groups gathered to keenly find out how their brilliantly blooming veg boxes had fared in the final round of judging at the Show.
Well done to all the schools who took part this year and truly embraced the ‘Bee Kind’ theme, learning all about the vital role of pollinators in food production.
Our 2024 winners
Taking the overall top honours in first place as our 2024 School Veg Box Competition winners was White Laith Primary School, Whinmoor, Leeds, pictured below. White Laith also picked up a prized rosette for Best Decorated Veg Box.
In second place, our 2024 School Veg Box Competition runners-up were children from Farsley Primary School, Leeds, pictured below.
In third place, a huge well done to Dacre Braithwaite Primary School, Nidderdale, pictured below.
And congratulations to Mill Hill Primary School, Northallerton, winners of the Best Diary.
We are grateful to our competition sponsors Mr Fothergill’s, Yorganics Compost and Pink Pig.
Entries for the 2025 School Vegetable Box Competition will open in Autumn 2024.
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society is dedicated to ensuring children understand where food comes from and how it’s produced, which in turn encourages healthy eating.
We also promote learning outside of the classroom which provides the opportunity to be active and connect with nature.
We offer a range of year-round educational events, shows and courses which you can find out more here.
