Youth of the Blues

National Young Show Stars 2015

The inaugural National Young Show Stars event, which took place in association with The Three Counties Agricultural Society on the 1st and 2nd April 2015 at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, has been hailed a huge success for the livestock industry.

The event saw more than 100 young farming enthusiasts between the ages of 8 and 24 and from all corners of the UK showcase their skills in marketing and presentation, livestock preparation, handling, auctioneering, butchering and general knowledge of the industry. Commenting on the event, chairman Neil Lloyd said:
"For year one, the event has blown our expectations. The aim all along has been to put young people at the front of an event, as on so many occasions they’re last on the running order at a show and should be given the profile and credit they deserve.

"With more than 50 sponsors for the event, trade stands, universities and colleges in attendance and teams and individuals entered from all corners of the UK and overseas from Canada, it’s cemented itself as a headline event in the farming calendar.

The highlight for sure was the beef team competition with 20 teams entered and having been tight on the scoring throughout the course of the judging, the British Blue team of the “Blue Bandits” came through on winning form. Stirling-based Stephanie Dick was joined by Millie Hendy and Issy Hartley and will now be heading to Canada in November to compete at the Royal Winter Fair, Toronto, as part of their winning prize. The team was sponsored by the British Blue Society and Farmers Guardian, with the cattle being supplied by noted show cattle and sheep exhibitors Andrew and Becky Bishop.

Twenty-year old Stephanie has three Aberdeen-Angus, eight Limousins and three British Blues under her own Stephick prefix and regularly helps the family’s Ronick herd. Last year Steph travelled with teammate Millie Hendy to Agribition in Canada.

Bristol-based Millie can often be found on the halter of winning stock and has shown successfully for the Sterling herd of Simmentals. She also finished third at the NBA’s Young Show Stars Challenge 2013. Meanwhile, 18 year-old Lancashire-based Issy Hartley, the youngest member of the team, was reserve Young Handler at Great Yorkshire Show 2013 and helps with the family’s 50-head Pendle herd of British Blues.

Runner up in the beef was the Canadian team, with the Black Stars team of Welsh Blacks, sponsored by the South Wales Welsh Black Breeders Club coming in third.