Superb Young Farmers Contest

by John Sorrie, ANM

Taking the overall championship at the Ledingham Chalmers sponsored Young Farmers’ Overwintering Contest, and beating a large and strong entry, was Balfour Baillie of Sebay Cottage, Tankerness, Orkney.

Mr Baillie, who is a member of East Mainland Young Farmers’ club, exhibited a 454kg May 2009 born Charolais Cross heifer bred by D&R Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet.  This animal was also overall heifer champion.  

In the sale, the animal went on to sell for £2,100 to Smallburn Farms, Plewlands, Duffus, Elgin.

 Judges for the event were Harry Emslie, Upper Kinknockie, Mintlaw, who judged the classes and the championship, and Graham Easton, The Ranch, Letham, Angus, who judged the best presented and paraded animal.

Overall steer champion came from Craig Hendry, Head of Auchinderran, Aultmore, Keith: a 534kg February 2009 born Limousin Cross bred by RS Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet.  It sold for £1,600 to Blair Duffton, Bogie Street, Huntly.  Craig is a member of Keith Young Farmers’ club.

The home bred champion was a February 2009 born Limousin Cross heifer weighing in at 474kg.  This animal was presented by Keith Young Farmers’ club member Martin Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir, Keith and went on to sell for £1,900 also to Blair Duffton.

 

Top priced animal came from Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet for a November 2008 born, 600kg, Limousin Cross heifer, bred by RS Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet.  It sold for £2,300 to judge, Harry Emslie, Upper Kinknockie, Mintlaw.    

Allan Collie of sponsors Ledingham Chalmers commented: “This was a superb event, closely contested by a large number of keen young farmers.  Their skills and knowledge were evident in the way they presented and handled their stock and Ledingham Chalmers are delighted to be associated with an event such as this which encourages the next generation of the farming industry.”

Alan Hutcheon, Aberdeen & Northern Marts Deputy General Manager added: “It is great to see so many promising young farmers with such skills in presentation and handling and we are very happy with the event as a whole, including the support from Ledingham Chalmers, whose support is vital.

“We are now looking forward to the Young Farmers’ section at the Christmas Classic and encourage anyone interested in entering this event to start planning their entries soon.  We will also host a demonstration event with leading local showmen where Young Farmers can seek advice and pick up tips on preparing an animal for show.  The full details of this event will be announced shortly.”

 Meanwhile, a 14 year old entrant took home a number of top prizes including the highest average weight gain for a steer award, highest feeder’s margin award, Best Overwintered Animal (steers) and best First Time Exhibitor.  Kyle Cooper of Shenwell School House, Drummuir, Keith took these awards and also saw his top priced animal, a 430kg April 2009 born British Blue cross steer, sell for £1,850 to Donald Morrison, Cairn Nulla, Burnside, Kinlochbervie.

The Millennium Trophy for best overall club went to Keith Young Farmers.

 

PRIZE LIST

 

Class 1 - Light Unhaltered Bullock

1^st Craig Hendry, Heads of Auchenderran Keith;

2^nd Walter Leith, North Crannoch Grange;

3^rd Adam Middler, South Cardrum, Oldmeldrum;

4^th Diane Hirst, 2 Bogie St, Huntly;

5^th Adam Middler.

 

Class 2 - Heavy Unhaltered Bullock

1^st Gemma Hendry, Heads of Auchenderran, Keith;

2^nd Kay Cumming, Tillydesk, Ellon

3^rd Steven Smith, Sunnyhill Croft, Turriff;

4^th Gary Raeburn, 7 Bogie St, Huntly;

5^th Craig Hendry.

 

Class 3 - Unhaltered Heifer

1^st Craig Hendry;

2^nd Gary Raeburn;

3^rd Laura Lumsden, Downies, Huntly;

4^th Scott Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul;

5^th Steven Smith.

 

Class 4 - Light Bullock

1^st Paul Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Ardersier;

2^nd Ellie Robertson, Roebank, Grange;

3^rd Gemma Anderson, Morayscairn, Forres;

4^th Michelle M. Connon, Broadmyre, Clatt;

5^th Diane Hirst.

 

Class 5 - Light Intermediate Bullock

1^st Kyle Cooper, Shenwell School House, Keith;

2^nd Scott Fraser, Lethen Mill House, Nairn;

3^rd Sarah Balfour, Fodderletter Farm, Tomintoul;

4^th Lynne MacArthur, Newton of Budgate, Nairn;

5^th Steven Singer, Woodside of Ashalloch, Huntly.

 

Class 6 - Intermediate Bullock

1^st Balfour Baillie, Sebay Cottage, Tankerness;

2^nd Craig Durno, Auchorachan, Glenlivet;

3^rd Ally Fraser, Easter Clune, Nairn;

4^th Darren Davidson, 8 Quarryhill, Keith;

5^th Michael Stronach, Maisley, Keith.

 

Class 7 - Heavy Bullock

1^st Craig Hendry;

2^nd William J Law, Upper Ashalloch; Huntly;

3^rd Grant Fraser, Easter Clune, Nairn;

4^th Grant Morrison, Newtack, Keith;

5^th Walter Leith.

 

Class 8 - Light Heifer

1^st Paul Wilson;

2^nd Darren Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir;

3^rd Gary Wright, Lagavaich, Glenlivet;

4^th Diane Hirst;

5^th Walter Leith.

 

Class 9 - Light Intermediate Heifer

1^st Balfour Baillie;

2^nd John Connon, Broadmyre, Clatt;

3^rd Bradley Robertson, Roebank, Grange;

4^th Sarah Balfour;

5^th Kyle Cooper.

 

Class 10 - Intermediate Heifer

1^st Balfour Baillie;

2^nd Catherine Beaton, South Auchmaliddie, Maud;

3^rd Jordan Green, 20 Bridge St, Keith;

4^th Lynne MacArthur;

5^th Sarah J Wilson, Wester Cairnglass, Ardersier.

 

Class 11 - Heavy Heifer

1^st Gary Wright;

2^nd Mark Robertson, Easter Fodderletter, Tomintoul;

3^rd Grant Morrison;

4^th Craig Durno;

5^th Gary Raeburn.

 

Class 12 - Light Home Bred Bullock

1^st Gary Patterson, 37 Mid St, Keith;

2^nd Ewan Simpson, Mains of Leslie, Insch;

3^rd Gavin Petrie, Mains of Auchoynanie, Keith;

4^th Ewan Simpson;

5^th Walter Leith.

 

Class 13 - Light Home Bred Heifer

1^st Martin Irvine, Braehead, Drummuir;

2^nd Martin Irvine;

3^rd Gavin Petrie;

4^th Sarah J Wilson;

5^th Paul Wilson.

 

Champion - Balfour Baillie

 

Overall Bullock - Craig Hendry

 

Overall Heifer - Balfour Baillie

 

Home-bred Champion - Martin Irvine

 

Best Presented & Paraded Animal

1^st Gavin Petrie;

2^nd Sarah Balfour;

3^rd Balfour Baillie;

4^th Ally Fraser;

5^th Martin Irvine.