It was a family affair for Carmarthenshire at the Great Yorkshire Show, as a brother and sister duo scooped NFYFC’s Intermediate and Senior Dairy Stockjudging titles – and helped their team bring home the overall win!
Nia and Iwan Thomas, both dairy farmers from San Ishmael YFC, were in a team with club member Cari who is from a beef and sheep farm in the county.
As the event took place during a heatwave, much of the judging was moved indoors to keep both the cows – and the competitors – cool and safe.
Senior winner Nia, who won the Intermediate competition last year, judged a class of four dairy Shorthorns and took part in a linear assessment to score four individual cows in areas such as stature, mammary and body capacity.
“At an event like today you’ve got to appreciate your dairy farmers,” said Nia. “Bringing out stock on the third day of the show is a massive thing for the farm, especially with the heat we had. So, we’d like to thank the dairy farmers of Yorkshire for always being willing to bring out the stock.”
Nia’s brother Iwan judged six dairy Ayrshire and was delighted to be this year’s Intermediate winner and to win as a team.
“It’s a great privilege to win and we’re all excited,” said Iwan. "We’ve travelled a long way – about six or seven hours, and hearing your name come top is a really nice feeling. We’ve got fairly strong competition back in Carmarthenshire so coming up here and getting our names out there is quite a nice feeling as well.”
Both siblings are involved in the family’s dairy enterprise, and their father has been helping them practise for the competition, which is sponsored by Kerbl/Rutland Electric Fencing.
They’re the third generation in their family to win at NFYFC’s Dairy Stockjudging competition.
Nia said: “Being dairy farmers we like to show and compete our dairy cattle and it’s a great skill to have when trying to select the right stock. This competition has helped us gain confidence in that skill, which is hugely important in our day-to-day lives.”
It was a Wales victory all round in the competition as the 16 & under category was won by Tom from Pembrokeshire.
Tom, who lives on a dairy farm, milking 200 cows, has only been competing in stockjudging for a year.
Tom said: “I think it’s a good competition because you get to see different cows and do the different shows. We did practices on my farm with my dad.
“I have gained skills to be able to talk to a judge in front of people more confidently. It feels good to win and I’m very proud.”
The competition is supported by Kerbl/Rutland Electric Fencing and their National Sales Manager Huw Burnham attended the show to see the competitors and present the prizes.
Each winner was given a Rutland Electric Fencing Dual Powered Energiser, which Iwan admitted would be useful for keeping in the stock over the grazing period.
“It’s very important for Kerbl/Rutland Electric Fencing to be supporting the next generation of farmers because that’s who’s going to feed us,” said Huw.
“We love this competition as it’s bringing the next generation of British farmers through. They get to judge some beautiful stock at the Great Yorkshire Show and it’s a great experience for everyone. We’re very proud to sponsor it and it’s a great competition.
“We’d like to congratulate all competitors that came out in the heat. A huge congratulations to all teams and individuals who collected prizes and good luck in your future endeavours in the dairy industry.”
“For any of you who want to start Stockjudging – it’s obviously practice, practice, practice. You won’t get there on the first chance, but the only way is up.”
“Look at the cows more than once, talk confidently and enjoy.”
