Youth Development Programme

The last of the 2010 YDP workshops was held at Robin Lamb’s farm with trainer Gordon McWilliam passing on some great ideas for dressing show cattle.

I can’t believe we’ve just completed the last workshop of 2010. What it lacked in good weather it certainly made up for it in enthusiasm and good old ‘hands on experience’ was the name of the game yet again. Sadly the day was drenched in heavy showers and it certainly did nothing for my photos being stuck in the shed, but a grand day was had by all.

The Northern Ireland workshop was held at Lime Tree Farm, Richill, Co Armagh, by kind permission of Northern Ireland Club Chairman, Robin Lamb and family. I am always reading different snippets of Club news on the Society website as they seem to be a very active club so it was great to see the workshop being supported with much the same enthusiasm.

Gordon McWilliam was asked back to do the training this year having done such a good job in 2009. For those of you that don’t know Gordon, he keeps Angus, Charolais and Beef Shorthorn cattle at Lurgan with his wife, Libby. Gordon originally hails from Scotland and I have seen him turn out many cattle for top herds over here. With Gordon’s experience of showing many breeds it can bring in some new ideas which is always great.

In total 12 participants attended the day coming from a wide range of cattle backgrounds. Gordon got straight on with the job in hand and started with the clipping demo. He explained how he would clip and the timescale required before a show for each bit. All the Angus breeders gasped as he clips the ends off the ear hair. He reckons it makes their ears look bigger.

He also showed a great tactic to keeping the hair up for clipping but guess what? You’ll have to attend a YDP workshop to find out what it was. Everyone got to have a go at clipping various parts of the heifers which the Lamb family had worked hard to get halter trained and quiet. Clipping always takes some time and while some were finishing their clipping others were let loose with water and soap. Gordon never uses soap and I did get told off for giving them too many bubbles.

Everything within a 12 mile radius seemed to be washed including my boots and the bottom half of my jeans and I should have known better than to trust 15 year old lads with a high pressure hose. The heifers were then dried and Gordon showed the youngsters how to use the blower properly. Time really flew past in the morning and after everything was clipped, washed and dried it was time for lunch.

While everyone was seated it seemed a great opportunity for the Lamb’s vet to give his talk on Health topics. The attendees listened carefully and I hope it didn’t put them off their lunch.

The afternoon session started with the dressing seminar. Gordon showed how he would dress an animal with soap. I have noticed before that Northern Irish showers love soap. Gordon also dressed one with a summer coat. It is always great to hear the youngsters asking question and Gordon is great at discussing different ideas with them. After the heifers were dressed it was time for ring craft and we were really lucky that the rain had cleared up for us to go outside.

It was also great to make use of the outside yard as a little bird had told me that Mrs Lamb had made them paint the gates. Everyone got the chance to take the cattle out and all did really well, the youngsters seem to ‘spring to life’ out in the ring. The day ended with the halter making demo. Gordon took everyone through how they would make one and I did notice a slightly older person who told me he didn’t need developing having a sneaky look at how they were made too.

So that’s it, the last workshop and another great one too. Huge thanks to Robin Lamb and family and Gordon McWilliam.

Just the final and weekend event to go now and the finalists will be informed soon. I have greatly enjoyed this year and the help and support from trainers and host farmers is tremendous. I am also very grateful for the hospitality and friendly welcome that I have received everywhere. I have to be careful not to make my job look like too much fun or everyone will want to be the YDP Coordinator! I am now getting ready for the weekend event now and am really excited at the level of interest so far, it will be a case of miss it miss out if you’re not there.