Feature: 2009 winner Jess Denning

2009 YDP winner Jess Denning

It was a Youth Development entry form in her first Society Review that led 20 year old Jess Denning to win the trip of a lifetime. YDP co-ordinator Gayle Bersey finds out what Jess has learnt from her experience and where her prize will take her

The Denning family are Somerset born and bred and until fairly recently milked on the 120 acre Temple Farm in Chedzoy. In 2006 the decision was taken to disperse the dairy herd and move into suckler cows. Some dairy cross cows were kept and some pedigree Angus cows were purchased from Sheldon and House at Taunton to form the ‘Temple’ herd of Aberdeen-Angus.

The farm is very much a family affair, with Jess and her brother and sisters taking an active role in all Temple Farm activities. The majority of cattle, pigs and sheep on the farm end up in the Denning’s catering business, ‘Pasture to Plate’ or with their homemade apple juice, in the farm shop. Pedigree bulls are also sold off farm. More pedigree cows have since been added to the herd, most recently from the Rull herd of Ed and Claire Jones.

It was just after Jess’ parents Andrew and Judith joined the Society that they received the Review with the YDP entry form in. They both felt that this was something Jess would enjoy getting involved in and she turned out to be pretty good at it too. Jess attended the workshop at Lockerley Farm and thoroughly enjoyed the day. As part of the NVQ folder, she had to attain some ‘showing experience’ with a pedigree Angus breeder and the trainer put her in contact with Colin Hutchings.

Showing with Colin throughout the summer and gaining a place in the 2007 final in Perth made Jess keen to have a go herself and get her parents cattle out on the show circuit. For her 18^th birthday her parents bought her a very fitting present, Kingsbrompton Jacata Erica, which was the start of her very own pedigree herd under the ‘Park Wall’ prefix.

Jess entered the YDP again, gaining a place in the 2008 final at Carlisle and enjoyed success at several local shows with her cattle and that of other peoples too. In 2009, Jess’ dreams were shattered when by the smallest of margins she missed out on the chance to go to Veterinary College which had always been her plan. While deciding on a different career path, Jess entered the YDP and for the third time made it through to the final where, it was obviously ‘third time lucky’ as Jess won the senior section against some stiff opposition.

Judge, Bridget Borlase praised her for her ability with cattle, but also commented that she would be a great ambassador for the breed having paid attention and carried out instructions with great efficiency.

Jess with one of her heifers from her Park Wall prefix

2010 is looking like a promising year for this rising star, Jess is in the midst of completing her Farm Secretarial course and has just taken on the roll of Treasurer for Sedgemoor Young Farmers as well as the Somerset Young Farmers County Rally.  She has lined up some show experience with Richard and Carol Rettie in the summer and to top it all she has the sponsored trip to study Angus abroad to look forward to courtesy of winning the YDP final. Jess has chosen Canada as her destination and she is hoping to get involved with the show teams at the Calgary Stampede. It will also be a great opportunity to see some of the genetics that have influenced our herd book.

Jess paid tribute to how much she has gained from the YDP saying: “my only disappointment in winning is that I won’t be able to enter again! It’s given me the confidence and knowledge to show my own cattle which I wouldn’t have known where to start before and I have met so many great friends through all of the workshops and finals. I would urge anyone to have go.”