Highly respected member of Cumbria’s Livestock Industry to oversee NBA Beef Expo showcase

The National Beef Association is delighted to confirm that Lisa Bennett has stepped up into the key role as Chair of the organising committee responsible for this year’s industry showcase, Beef Expo 2024.

Held this year at the North West Auctions J36 Rural Auction Centre Crooklands on Saturday, 27^th April, NBA Beef Expo provides the most important and comprehensive presentation of the UK’s beef industry. This year’s event brings together farmers and breeders in a world class show of British beef genetics, together with breed societies and trade organisations, and experts in every field of technology, nutrition, husbandry, and innovation to share the ideas and experience that will carry the livestock industry forward into the future.

For NBA CEO, Neil Shand, the organisation of this landmark event is critically important, and in Lisa Bennett’s very capable hands he knows that it will be a resounding success. “Lisa understands the industry and the challenges it faces inside out, but she also brings all her knowledge and experience as Chair of the highly successful Westmorland Show to support our organising team.

“In her four years as Chair of the Westmorland Agricultural Society, the Show has gone from strength to strength, and expanded from one day to two. NBA Beef Expo and itself has also grown in scale and in its importance to the industry, and we are incredibly fortunate to have Lisa’s enthusiasm, event management expertise, knowledge of the area, and commitment helping to make this one of the foremost events in the NBA’s history.”

Born and brought up in Cumbria, Lisa has been involved in the livestock industry all her life. Today along with her partner Richard they farm 760 acres plus fell rights in the Lake District, running Swaledale and Herdwick sheep and hill type suckler cows, she also works as a Fields Person for NW Auctions. Alongside this she somehow found the time to take the chair to guide the Westmorland Agricultural Society successfully through the pandemic, culminating in the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service won by the Society in 2021.

As a Cumbrian, Lisa is absolutely delighted that Beef Expo is returning to the region this year, and looking forward immensely to making it a red letter day for the industry on a national as well as a regional level.

 “It is fantastic that NBA Beef Expo is returning to the area, and I am positive about the format it is coming back in. It’s a multi-layered one-day event with free admission that makes it accessible to all and this is intended to be an event which will appeal to beef industry experts and visitors alike. We have some fantastic partners working together, including our hosts, North West Auctions, and the NBA has organized a series of really important industry seminars.

“This is an event which covers all aspect of the beef Industry, with more than 100 trade stands and over 12 breed societies attending. But for me one of the highlights is certainly going to be the National Beef Association Commercial Cattle Show, which will give those attending the opportunity to see some of the very best British beef cattle.”

Hosting Beef Expo in her home county at this time makes the event’s success doubly important for Lisa:

“The beef sector is very important to this area of Cumbria, and although all livestock has and adds value to our rural economy, and there is a positive attitude to change right across our agricultural sectors, livestock farmers face a particularly difficult challenge in adapting to environmental schemes that seek to reduce cattle numbers.”

“Therefore, I believe that it is essential that we showcase through this event, the huge contribution that the livestock industry is making and can continue to make to our economy and ensure our food security. And although this is a major suckler-producing area of the country, we also recognize the huge amount of beef that is produced on the back of the dairy industry, which is another crucially important part of the agricultural economy here in Cumbria.”

“Events like this are vitally important to the area. They provide enormous additional resources for the local economy, and they give us an opportunity to showcase what we have achieved. On behalf of the organizing team and the NBA, I look forward to welcoming the wonderful livestock and the equally wonderful people who come with it to NBA Beef Expo on April 27^th.”