Practice makes perfect in young handlers classes

June 25, 2010

The Farmers Guardian-sponsored young handlers classes at the Great Yorkshire Show are always popular with both exhibitors and spectators alike and draw a big crowd.

To demonstrate what goes on prior to the show the Yorkshire Agricultural Society has made a series of online videos tracking the progress of one young handler as she prepares for the event, starting in the depths of winter and continuing right up until the show. It has proved to be extremely popular and has been watched by thousands all over the world.

The videos feature Frances Griffiths, 17, from Gunthwaite Hall Farm, Penistone, where her parents Edward and Jenny milk the Coachgate herd of 150 pedigree Holsteins.

She says: “I have really enjoyed filming the videos and hope they show that young people can get involved with agriculture.”

Frances is currently studying for ‘A’ levels at Shelley College and, with her younger sisters Sally, 15, and Lydia, 12, is an active member of Cawthorne Young Farmers. In the past Frances has mainly concentrated on stock judging and won the Young Farmers Dairy Stock Judging Final at the Dairy Event in 2006 and 2008.

This year she won the Yorkshire round of the Young Stockman of the Year competition, which involves judging sheep, beef and dairy cattle and pigs and answering animal health questions. The next step is the northern regional final and then hopefully the national final.

She says: “I have always done a lot of public speaking with Young Farmers and I think this really helps with the stock judging as a lot of it is how well you can explain yourself and put across your reasons.”

Recently she has turned her attention to young handler’s classes and this is the second year she will be competing at the Great Yorkshire Show. “It is something I have only just started, so I still have a lot to learn.

“I am a member of the Yorkshire Holstein Young Breeders Club, so have been going to their training days, where they teach you about things like clipping and showmanship, so they are really useful. I also went to the weekend rally on Anglesey and we learnt a lot, as well as enjoying the social side.

“I have also been getting some help from some of the older, more experienced young handlers. Even though we are all competitors, everyone is keen to help each other.”

Preparation for the event starts long before the day. “The more you can practice with your calf the better,” says Frances, “so I try to practice every day.

“Once you get in the ring anything can happen and if your calf decides to be awkward it can spoil your chances, so by doing as much work as possible at home I’m hoping it will pay off.”

The Griffiths are taking two heifers, a calf and a senior cow to the show. They will arrive on the Sunday before the show and stay until Thursday evening. Frances and her cousin will camp in the trailer, which Frances says is all part of the fun, and Edward will travel every day after milking, as he is a steward in the dairy rings.

“The social side of the show is very good and there is always a great atmosphere in the cattle lines,” says Frances, “but they are very long days.

“We get up at four o’clock because we have to do the beds and feed and water the cattle and have the lines all swept up and clean and tidy before the show opens. We also have to wash the cattle early to give them time to dry before we start to get them ready to show.

“We then have to stay with them to make sure they don’t lie down and get dirty again and we will stay with them until late at night.”

As in all the other classes competition in the Young Handler section at the Yorkshire is tough, attracting the very best handlers from all over the country. Frances says: “To win would be amazing, but if I am in the first five at a prestigious show like this I will be happy.”