The Youth Competition is one of the most hotly anticipated features in this year’s World Angus Forum programme, and another of the candidates who has made the team to represent the UK and Ireland is Gemma Wark from Forfar, Angus.
Having first gained experience on the Aberdeen-Angus Youth Development Programme at a very young age, Gemma says she still feels that same excitement and enthusiasm today as she did when she was much younger, and that is simply down to her pure passion for this great breed.
Gemma has been an active member of the Aberdeen-Angus Youth Development Programme for a number of years and is passionate about both showing pedigree cattle and about managing strong commercial herds. Gemma is in her final year of studying Agriculture at SRUC Edinburgh (Scotland’s Rural College), and by the time the Forum comes around, will have achieved a BSc Honours Degree. Gemma has also had some magnificent work experience through positions here in the UK, as well as further afield in Germany and the USA.
Gemma has experience of entering various different team and individual competitions, gaining some fantastic accolades along the way. In 2016, Gemma and her fellow team members were runners-up in the National Young Stars competition at the Three Counties Showground, a magnificent achievement in a very competitive event. On top of that, Gemma also took part in the Black Beauty Bonanza event at Thainstone Mart in 2016 and won overall junior showman in her first entry to the competition.
When asked about why she wanted to be part of the World Angus Forum 2017, Gemma said:
“The fact that the Forum is being held in the UK, the home country of Aberdeen-Angus, is extremely exciting and it’s a fantastic opportunity”
Gemma added:
‘’The current climate presents a great opportunity for the Aberdeen-Angus breed, and this makes the World Angus Forum even more exciting. I’d love to be a part of this positive action and I feel it is very important to have forward-thinking, engaging and passionate people representing Aberdeen-Angus, and I think I fit that criteria very well.’’
Once it was announced that Gemma had made the UK and Ireland team for this year’s Youth Competition, she said:
‘’I feel really privileged to have been selected as part of the team in the year where the breed is returning to its original home. I have tried to widen my knowledge and experience of Aberdeen-Angus through international travel, and the Forum will provide me with great potential to further build on this. I am excited for this chance to enhance my personal development and network with like-minded breeders.’’
The World Angus Forum 2017 Youth Competition will encompass a 12-day-long series of exciting tasks and challenges, culminating in the prestigious final at Netherton/HW Angus on the final leg of the tour on Sunday 2nd July. More information on the Youth Competition can be found at: http://worldangusforum2017.com/youth-programme.