Youth Development Programme

The biggest hurdle I have to get over in the YDP is how to get the balance right between those that are new to showing and want to learn and those that are old hands – you need to cover the basics each time without patronising and boring the ones that think they know. But I think you can always learn something, no matter what your age. The balance at the first Republic of Ireland workshop wasn’t difficult to get right as all eight participants were seasoned professionals, even though some of them were only 12!

The workshop was held at Rathkenny, just outside Cootehill by kind permission of Micheal Smith of the Lawsonford herd and the training was in the capable hands of Leo McEnroe who needs no introduction. As I said last year, there is many an Irish Show winner with the McEnroe name involved in it.

The day was also like a who’s who in the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association. We were delighted to have the President, Joe Keville and the secretary, Kathryn Bradshaw, pop along to see what we were up too. We also had the Connaught and Leinster Club Secretary, Dermot Lynch and Chairman, Jim Mulvey who were also involved with the day.

The workshop started with five autumn calves in a pen that had only been haltered twice before. The participants put halters on and Leo took them through the first stages of how he would halter break cattle. The participants held the end of the rope loosely and got to know the calves, scratching their tails and combing them gently. It wasn’t very long before the calves were settled enough to tie up and the fun began.

First off was washing, bearing in mind these calves hadn’t really been tied up a great deal they behaved really well, having just enough ‘personality’ to test the participants skill. Then it was time for blowing, as Leo pointed out this can make a real difference to the coat if it’s done properly. After blowing the coats we did take some photos to be able to do demonstrate the before and after clipping but we forgot to get the after shots!

While the cattle were tied up and finished drying, Leo took the opportunity to discuss with the attendees about what they should be looking for in breeding and show cattle. It was very interesting to hear the young people’s comments and they were soon putting their ideas forward freely. We stopped briefly for lunch and it was great to hear the friendly banter between all the participants. After numerous buns were consumed, Jim Mulvey treated the youngsters to a very informative talk on health, covering lots of issues that can affect your herd.

The afternoon hands on sessions continued with the clipping seminar. Leo clipped one of the calves from top to toe explaining where and why to clip. It was then the turn of the participants to have a go and the electric went off. After numerous people flicking trip switches (it’s amazing how all the attending adults thought that flicking the switches up and down numerous times was going to make it work!), a solution was found in the form of Micheal Smith’s neighbour and all youngsters set about tidying the calves with clippers.

It was great to see these young people setting about clipping with great confidence and Leo was on hand to give then some pointers. Although I’m not sure getting one calf to look like Jedwoods third brother was quite in the plan.

The calves were then prepared for show and with the participants then dressed in their showing attire, the newly broken calves took to the ring. Leo imparted some words of wisdom on how best to get the cattle to do what you want them too and emphasised the point of handling cattle gently as they always remember what is done to them. The day ended with halter making which always causes great amusement. There were the ones that did an excellent job at it on their own, there were the ones that tried really hard and then there was the one that managed to get tangled in a bit of rope.

So another successful workshop under the YDP belt and huge thanks go to Leo McEnroe, Micheal and Josephine Smith and Jim Mulvey.

The workshop at Rathkenny was all that I love about the YDP and my job, there was so much fun and laughter throughout the day and everyone got on so well. When Joe Keville gave a vote of thanks for the day, Micheal Smith answered with a very true statement “the young people you have met today will be your colleagues and contacts for the next 40 years” I think he was absolutely right. While YDP is about education, it is also about having fun and meeting like minded people and there were certainly some good friendship made at every level.