Aberdeen Angus Youth Development Programme - Not Just for Angus Breeders
Good morning
We would just like to invite your Young Members to take part in our upcoming events – I know that The
Young Farmers Federation does a huge amount for young people but with a bit of cross over every now
and again and a wide range of events for young people to take advantage of can only help to encourage
them into the beef industry and hopefully keep them in it! We do hold our events on Angus farms but we
don’t make anyone go home with an Angus bull (although that could be a new initiative for next year!?)
It’s not just for Angus Breeders it’s for anyone interested in cattle (aged 8-24) This year we have the usual
workshops where the aim is to build up the skills and confidence levels of young people and also they are a
lot of fun too. We cover everything from cattle handling to stock judging, halter making to show ring craft
with a great selection of the best stock men & women to give away some tips and everyone gets some
hands on exprience.
Workshop dates and Locations for 2015:
18th April – East Anglia (Suffolk)
26th April – Central England (Oxfordshire)
2nd May – South West England (Devon)
16th May – South East England (Berkshire)
30th May – North of Scotland (Aberdeenshire)
28th June – England/Wales Border (Gloucestershire)
24th July – Republic of Ireland (Co Leitrim)
25th July – Republic of Ireland (Co Cork)
2nd August – Scottish Borders (Selkirk)
8th August – Northern Ireland (Co Fermanagh)
9th August – South West Scotland (Wigtownshire)
15th August - Central Scotland (Perthshire)
16th August – North of England ( Yorkshire)
**Date to be confirmed for the workshop in Cornwall
This year we have added some new initiatives – firstly a Senior Conference called ‘Beefing up the YDP’
(THIS IS NOW FULLY BOOKED) This is aimed at those participants over 17 that want to know a little more
about a wider range of subjects to do with farming. This conference (taking place in March) has been
kindly sponsored by Dawn Meats and has a great list of speakers:
·
Understanding market specifications and relevance to breeding decisions – Sarah Haire, Dawn Meats
·
Cattle fertility – Duncan Findlay, Vale Veterinary Group
·
Suckler cow production – Mary Vickers, EBLEX
·
Clipping masterclass – Andrew Hughes
·
Safe driving – Ali Baker
·
Grassland management – Charlie Morgan, Grassmaster Ltd
·
Safe animal handling practices – Miriam Parker, Livestock Wise Ltd
·
EBV’s versus the stockman’s eye – discussion panel with Rob Bishop, William Haire and Genus
·
After dinner speaker – Paul Westaway – Melview Angus, Sterling Sires and Paul and Kirsty’s Nights In
Alongside the conference, the Society is also pleased to announce a new qualification for the
Programme. Working in conjunction with Duchy College, a City & Guilds qualification will be
awarded to 16-18 year olds and 19-24 year olds to those that complete the workshops and online
course work.
Our weekend event in September is one of the things we are most proud of, where participants come along
and get some education on subjects that might help them in the future and also we have a competition.
(The participants are assessed at the workshops and those that score well are invited to compete at the
final although anyone can attend the weekend event if they came to a workshop) the finalists are put
through their paces in ring craft, dressing and stock judging and the Seniors undertake a panel interview.
We have a fantastic prize fund of £2500 on offer at this event and the winner of the senior section wins a
scholarship abroad. In the last 5 years the winners have been to Canada, Brazil, Argentina and New
Zealand (They don’t have to be Angus breeders but they must travel to study Aberdeen Angus abroad)
The aim of the programme is to get and keep young people interested in the industry. We are hoping that a
broad range of topics including showing will work towards building up confidence with cattle and for those
that are keen to get started but don’t have access to a farm, then it is a foot in the door.
Take a look at what we do on our Society page – www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk/youth-development
So that’s basically it - if you could promote it to you Members that would be much appreciated.
Anymore info then just let me know
Kind regards
Gayle Bersey
Aberdeen Angus Society's Youth Development Coordinator
01503 240478