With the kick-off date for the World Angus Forum just around the corner, the excitement is building for the youth competition where our young and ambitious farmers will get the chance to compete with their peers from around the World. Calum Smith of Turnberry, Girvan is a young yet experienced Stockman who’ll make up part of the UK and Ireland teams, and we’ve been speaking to him in the lead-up.

Calum is a young Stockman who currently works as a Ruminant Livestock Consultant for Advanced Nutrition, with specialisation in Artificial Insemination techniques and programmes across a number of livestock breeds. Calum comes from a family that has had close ties to the land and agriculture industries, and gained his first bit of work experience when he set up his own small boxed lamb business at the age just fourteen.

Calum has vast experience of preparing and showing livestock at Regional and National levels, gaining recognition as a professional breeder of Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus cattle, whilst winning several highly sought-after accolades, including Native Interbreed Champion at the Royal Highland and Yorkshire shows. Calum recently clipped the champion calve and the top three priced calves at the Young Farmers Rally Sale, and regularly clips the cattle for show calf producers. He also recently came fourth overall at the youth development finals, which was a great achievement considering it was his first time competing.

Aside from the world of agriculture, Calum is an active participant in local rugby leagues, and has played a central role for his local club side Carrick RUFC who were national champions 2016 and 2017, whilst also being an avid member of Ayr Young Farmers club, as a previous holder of the coveted Ayrshire rally title.

When speaking of his reaction to being selected as part of the UK and Ireland teams, Calum said:

“I was over the moon to be selected, and I cannot wait to compete alongside my team mates and show the world that the UK and Ireland has some of the best talent available, and hopefully make my family proud in the process!’’

We wish Calum and his teammates all the best in the competition. We’re certain that along with all the others, Calum will bring magnificent qualities to the team and help them on their way to a great competition performance!