Youngsters learn from the ring master that is Colin Hutchings

Lockerley Farm, 15^th August.

As it is my first year in the job and I haven’t been involved with the programme before, I have found it quite daunting working in parts of the country that I don’t know and with people that I don’t know all that well either.  I thought that the South of England workshop would be a breeze as I knew everyone involved.

As it was one of the last workshops, the participants had read all reports of previous workshops and all told me how much they were looking forward to it being their turn now. Oh the pressure!! But I need not have worried as everyone pulled it off magnificently.

The workshop was held at Lockerley Hall Farm, Southampton by kind permission of Mr L Van Geest and herd manager David Batch. Workshops have been held here before so they had had some practise, but David did tell me of a few sleepless nights about the whole job!

Head trainer for the day was Colin Hutchings. I’m not sure he needs any introduction as he has won most showing accolades over the years and is a prominent figure on the west country show seen. Colin has not been involved with the YDP before but has been a driving force in many breeds and for all ages, as well as experience of an education programme in the South.

He also taught my Dad quite a few things, especially on a trip to Perth when Dad was in his teens!! Also helping with the training was Rob Bishop, who mght not have been around for as long as Colin but has certainly been very successful in Angus, and of course with Colin comes Jack Ellicott!

10 participants turned up for the day’s training and also a few ‘not quite so young’ turned up with a hope that Colin would let one of the secrets of his success slip for all to use in future!

The day started with a talk on halter breaking and feeding cattle, a very useful and informative part of the day where attendees asked lots of questions. This was followed by the ‘Clipping Clinic’. Colin demonstrated how best to accentuate the good points of an animal and hide the not quite so good points!

All participants were able to have a go including the not so confident ones that ended up doing an excellent job. The clipping is always of interest to the youngsters and it is great when the experts pass on useful tips, and I’m nearly in danger of using my favourite phrase of ‘hands on experience’!!! Jack found his usual usefulness and brought round tea and biscuits mid morning and certainly used his initiative with the tray!

The morning sessions ended with the washing of the cattle. I am always really impressed by the cattle that seem to take no notice of 3 or 4 people scrubbing and hosing them all at once. It is something you can’t prepare them for, as even if they have been to a show I have never found 3 or 4 people to help me wash mine!!

After lunch while the cattle were drying, Colin gave a run through of what you should be looking for in a beef animal, pointing out the cuts of meat, breed characteristics and qualities that are needed for today’s market. This was followed by Rob Bishop talking about EBV’s and using the actual figures for the Lockerley animals that were there. This was a brilliant way of explaining breeding and figures as it was all there in front of you and Rob’s figures backed Colin’s physical analysis.

Colin then showed the attendees how to dress an animal using soap and everyone had the chance to have a go at turning the animals out. I must apologise to any parents that had black hand prints on everything when they came home! Two of the animals had been clipped and one hadn’t, when compared against each other this then reinforced the need for clipping.

After another cup of tea brought to us this time by Tom Beadle of Rosemead Herd, using the same ‘tray’ as before, the youngsters were able to show off their showing skills in a mock show! It is great to see even the quiet ones come into their own when on the end of a halter and all showed with great skill. It did cause great amusement with Jack pushing everything on and Colin telling him to slow up, it reminded me of every show that we go too!

Halter making - note the ages of the fellas please!

The afternoon ended with the bit that most of the older participants had turned up for, halter making! Tom Beadle had put his holiday to Devon on hold to learn this skill. Mrs Batch and I did decide that it probably would be easier to buy one from Mole Valley!! Sadly there was not enough rope for me to make one as I am positive that I can now do it!!!!

Again another really friendly and informative workshop thanks to Lockerley Farms, David Batch, Colin Hutchings, Rob & Rachel Bishop and Jack Ellicott.

Smile please!

We were very pleased to welcome the YDP Committee Chairman, Mark Pilcher to this workshop, although it was his regional one it did take him 4 ½ hours to get there! He emailed me the next day to say he had thoroughly enjoyed the day and said that it had reinforced for him what made the YDP such a success. He pretty much summed it up when he said how great it was for the ‘kids’ to learn from a stockman par excellence in Colin, wise words from Rob who’s just won the Royal and a bit of humour from Jack thrown in for good measure!