A Brief History of LAMMA           Back

The Agricultural Machinery Show

In September 1981 at a meeting of Agricultural Engineers at Lincolnshire College of Agriculture a suggestion was made that as Lincolnshire had a large number of  small Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers many would welcome the opportunity to exhibit their products to potential customers, and it was considered that January / February would be the ideal time for a small local show.        Mr. J.R. Marshall and Mr R.D.S. Barber set about a survey to find if there was sufficient demand.     Within days the demand was created.    A small amount of capital was raised so that an exhibition hall could be booked, with a little available for working expenses, so with the help of Lincolnshire Agricultural College the first show was prepared. 

The Commitment. From the formation the exhibition supported and encouraged the smallest manufacturer by offering good facilities for them to display their products and services while still providing appropriate conditions where business could be conducted, all at a low cost to the exhibitor, so that no matter how small the firm was they would be able to exhibit. The  Association's aim is still to provide a low cost business show with no distractions, good information for both exhibitors and visitors within an acceptable environment, and to attract a quality attendance from Farmers, Contractors and Agricultural Engineers. Because of the restricted space available stand catering has never been allowed, an official caterer being appointed, a bar was provided in the few years until it failed to arrive one year, as this did not raise undue comment and it was found that the circulation of visitors and the general atmosphere of the event improved a bar was abandoned in future years.

The Early Years. The first exhibition was staged at the Lincolnshire Showground Exhibition Hall with some 50 exhibitors. These stands were all inside the hall, a few exhibitors also elected to have some outside area to show additional equipment. With limited funds available for advertising the help given by the local media in supporting a new venture was a great contributory factor in making the event a success, over 2,500 visiting farmers, contractors and agricultural engineers attended over the two days of the show. An attendance sufficient for most of the exhibitors do some business both at and as a result of the show. A small profit was made allowing for the financing of a second event. More importantly visitors and exhibitors were impressed with the quality of the show so setting the seed for, and the format of an annual event.
Consolidation. The next few years saw the formation of the Association with a management committee drawn from the exhibitors to organise the show on their behalf. The Introduction of the LAMMA prize for the Best New Product to encourage manufacturers and bring the products to the notice of farmers, has consistently attracted 12 to 15 entries each year. A Trophy for the Best New Invention in memory of Maurice High a secretary/ treasurer of the association has been well supported by 5-6 entries from farmers and agricultural engineers over the years. To improve the quality of the stand displays the Midland Bank presented a prize for the best stand layout. As the show developed Lincolnshire Agricultural Society later presented a prize for the best supporting stand layout. During the years the number of exhibitors and visitors steadily increased, Lamma becoming established as an important annual event.
Growth. In 1993 Lamma had grown to over 65 exhibitors and demand for stands was increasing, it was decided to open a new hall for the 1994 Show in the cattle lines of the Lincolnshire Showground, as this was some distance away from the main event an internal bus service was provided. This development proved to be popular as the halls greater height allowed larger machines to be displayed. The number of exhibitors rose dramatically to over 90. As the years passed with the changes in the Industry, it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the Lincolnshire element of the show so the committee first decided to admit adjacent counties manufacturers, latter this was extended to include all British manufactured equipment. In spit of these changes the Association has continued to give preference to local manufacturers. With the growth of the show the LAMMA prize for the best new Product was extended by adding a second award for the best New Product of low capital cost. In 1992 a new competition was introduced The Best Literature prize, with the objective of improving the standard of manufacturers sales and other leaflets and booklets. At the 1995 Show a new and enlarged style of catalogue was introduced, this being mailed to a large number of past visitors to the show. !997 saw the opening of a further small hall increasing the exhibitors numbers to over 100.
In 1996 the Association was advised to form a Company Limited by Guarantee, It was not until after the 1997 show that the new Company came into being, with the 1997 show the available space at Lincoln was fully occupied and yet the demand for space was still growing. The management decided after 1997 show that if Lamma was to continue to meet the demands and needs of the agricultural machinery manufacturing industry then a new site would have to be found, Newark Showground seemed to be ideal as there was over twice the covered space, a large area available for outside stands ample car parking area, easy access and was at the junction of major roads, rail serving all parts of the country and even local facilities for light aircraft. After much discussion and heart searching it was finally decided to make the move. The 1998 show was held at Newark and immediately justified the decision to move, the numbers of exhibitors rose to 126 in spite of a number of exhibitors not coming to Newark. The number of visitors also increased. The catalogue was published nationally and improved facilities were available for all. 1999 was an even better year with the number of exhibitors growing to over 175 with a substantial number of outside stands being occupied. In addition a new competition was sponsored with the Young Farmers Clubs of the local counties on machinery selection, the catering developed by the introduction of a Big Breakfast available all day during the show, the caterers using British produce where ever possible. All this was achieved in spite of the international hard times for both industry and farming.

Future Agriculture has had many ups and downs but has always survived, overcoming the difficult times by improving efficiency, innovation and being competitive in the market place. Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association with the LAMMA Show will continue to support agriculture by encouraging machinery with the highest efficiency and technical quality balanced with tight cost control.

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