The Great Yorkshire Show 2025 was a week to remember for all of us at Jacobs & Dalton…
GYS 2025 proved to be our best show yet, full of warmth, community, and Yorkshire pride.
A Record-Breaking Year for a Beloved Yorkshire Tradition
This year’s show drew 140 000 visitors to the Harrogate showground, selling out all four days of the show. In fact, 2025 marked one of the show’s highest-ever attendances – a testament to its growing popularity as one of the premier agricultural shows in the UK. Walking through the gates, we immediately felt the buzz, families, farmers, and foodies alike all coming together to celebrate the best of Yorkshire’s rural life.
With over 8 500 animals exhibited, the showground was filled with the sights and sounds of farming at its finest. Prize cattle, woolly sheep and, sturdy pigs, were on display, representing a wide variety of breeds and competitions. It’s this rich display of livestock from mighty bulls to cuddly lambs that gives the GYS its heart and draws agricultural enthusiasts from far and wide. But it wasn’t just for farmers, the show truly offered something for everyone. There were spectacular equestrian events, from showjumping to dressage, along with live music, countryside demonstrations, and a bustling market of local food and crafts. There was never a dull moment for visitors enjoying the entertainment and activities across the showground.
Our Fourth Year at the Show – Bringing Yorkshire Cosiness to Stand 500 on Avenue O
Our cosy home-from-home, Stand 500 on Avenue O.
For Jacobs & Dalton, 2025 was our fourth year exhibiting at GYS, and it felt like a homecoming. We are a North Yorkshire-based retailer of sheepskin products, so being at England’s biggest agricultural show is a perfect fit for us. Our stand (Stand 500 on Avenue O) was designed to reflect the cosy, rustic vibe of our brand and it truly became a little oasis of comfort amid the bustling show. We decked it out with wooden accents, soft textures, and of course plenty of fluffy sheepskins. Stepping into our tent, visitors could literally “feel the fluff” and instantly sense what Jacobs & Dalton is all about.
We brought along a selection of our bestselling and seasonal products to showcase the range of our luxury sheepskin goods. The display included our sumptuously soft sheepskin rugs, which always draw people in for a touch, as well as our baby care range (adorable sheepskin pram liners and baby booties that are gentle against little ones’ skin). Our ever-popular sheepskin slippers were a hit too – attendees loved the idea of keeping their feet comfortable with genuine British sheepskin. And we didn’t forget our furry friends: we featured some of our sheepskin pet beds, so even the dogs at the show could have a snooze on something special. It was rewarding to see how many visitors were excited to shop. Being part of that vibrant marketplace at GYS where people come ready to treat themselves was truly energising for our team.
Of course, nothing quite captured our brand’s spirit like our lovable mascot, Jacob the Alpaca. Jacob (our resident alpaca plush turned “honorary sheep”). He quickly became a star attraction for passersby – kids and adults alike couldn’t resist stopping to give him a pat or pose for a selfie. The crowd absolutely loved Jacob the Alpaca, and he brought a smile to everyone who met him. It’s little touches like this – a friendly alpaca mascot and a warm, inviting booth that helped our corner of the showground feel like a home away from home.
Heartwarming Highlights and Memorable Moments
What truly made this year’s show special for us were the personal connections and memories made. Here are a few standout moments that left us grinning long after we packed up our stand:
Reuniting with old friends: One of the biggest highlights was seeing familiar faces from past shows. Many visitors stopped by our stand not necessarily to buy something new, but simply to say hello and share how much they still love their Jacobs & Dalton pieces from previous years. We heard stories like, “My rug is still as soft as ever!” and “The slippers I got from you in 2023 are still my absolute favourite, and they’ve held up so well.” It was incredibly heartwarming to hear that our products have become part of our customers’ daily lives. In a world of disposable goods, knowing our craftsmanship stood the test of time (so much so that they didn’t need to replace the item this year) meant the world to us. Those kind words and compliments about our quality and craftsmanship truly reaffirmed why we do what we do.
A brush with Yorkshire celebrity:Yorkshire TV favourite Dave Nicholson drops by.
The Great Yorkshire Show always attracts a few well-known local personalities, and this year we had a delightful surprise when TV Personality, Dave Nicholson strolled by near our stand. Dave is well known for his love of the countryside (from Cannonhallfarm), and he’s a regular guest at the show’s events. We were thrilled to get a chance to chat with him briefly he was every bit as friendly in person as he appears on TV. We even managed to snap a lovely photo of our team (and Jacob the Alpaca, of course) with Dave. For us, meeting Dave Nicholson was a real “pinch me” moment and definitely one of this year’s highlights!
Sheepish selfies and farmyard fun:Lucy the Lucky Sheep on a livestock tour.
Given our roots in wool, we have a soft spot for sheep especially the breeds that inspire our products. This year we brought along a tiny plush mascot nicknamed Lucy the Lucky Sheep. Lucy got to go on a mini adventure around the livestock area, where we snapped some fun pictures of her with real Jacob sheep and Longwool sheep (two of Yorkshire’s iconic breeds). It was a light hearted moment, but it symbolised something bigger: a coming together of our brand’s heritage with the agricultural heritage on display at the show. Plus, the photos of our lucky sheep mingling with champion ewes and rams gave our social media followers a good chuckle! These playful moments – from an impromptu sheep “photoshoot” to cheering on the sheepdog trials in the next ring – made us feel deeply connected to the broader farming community celebrated at the GYS.
Community and Values
When the dust settled (quite literally, after four sunny days on the showground!), we packed up our stand with full hearts. For us, the Great Yorkshire Show is so much more than just a sales event. Yes, it’s an excellent opportunity to meet customers and showcase our products, but above all it’s a celebration of our local roots and a chance to live out our company values in person. We founded Jacobs & Dalton on principles of quality, sustainability, and community – and those shone through during our time at the show:
Craftsmanship & Quality: We take great pride in the craftsmanship of our sheepskin goods, and hearing customer feedback at GYS confirmed that quality matters. Each item we sell is made with care, our hides are hand-picked for softness and durability, and many are cut and stitched by skilled hands. Seeing a customer return to tell us “It’s still as good as new!” about a rug or pair of slippers from previous years is the best proof that investing in quality pays off. It reinforces our commitment to create items that last, rather than fast-fashion pieces, a philosophy that aligns with the agricultural ethos of valuing well-made, long-lasting goods.
Sustainability: As a brand built on natural materials, we’re passionate about sustainability and ethical sourcing. All of our sheepskins are a by-product of food farming and are 100% British (GB) sheepskin, tanned & crafted to the highest standards. By using local sheepskin and Crafted items that endure, we aim to reduce waste and support sustainable practices. Many visitors told us they appreciate knowing where their products come from and you can’t get much more transparent than saying the woolly rug in your living room came from sheep raised on British pastures! Participating in the show alongside farmers and rural businesses, we felt in our element championing sustainable, natural products that respect the land and animals.
Yorkshire Pride & Community: Perhaps dearest to our hearts is our Yorkshire pride. Jacobs & Dalton is designed in Yorkshire and born of Yorkshire spirit, and being at the Great Yorkshire Show is one of the best ways we express that. We were surrounded by fellow Yorkshire artisans, farmers, and producers, all supporting each other and showcasing the incredible talent of our region. The sense of community was palpable, from neighbours on Avenue O chatting over a cup of tea before the crowds arrived, to the cheerful greetings we exchanged with visitors who recognised us from prior years. This event allowed us to connect face-to-face with the community that supports us, thanking them personally and hearing their stories. It’s a reminder that our business isn’t just about products, it’s about people and heritage. We left the showground feeling more connected than ever to our Yorkshire roots, grateful to be part of such a vibrant local community.
As the dust settled on Harrogate showground, our team is already sketching ideas for an even cosier stand next July. Until then, thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared a story, or simply stroked a sheepskin rug on their way past. Your warmth keeps us crafting the fluffiest comfort Yorkshire has to offer.
