Young Farmers’ stock rises after Melplash test

Young farmers demonstrated their ability to tell a prizewinning animal from its lesser brethren at a competition hosted by The Melplash Agricultural Society. The society’s annual Young Farmers Dairy Stock Judging competition was held at Manor Farm, North Poorton by kind permission of Messrs. Fooks and Simon and Lauren Goringe. Ten teams entered from the following Young Farmers Clubs: Wedmore, Beaminster, Sherborne and Marshwood Vale.

The judges for the evening were father and daughter, Terry and Becky Cox from Sturminster Newton. The youngsters were able to visually evaluate dairy cattle based on the physical traits that are desired in the animal for their health, longevity and high milk production levels – an especially important skill and one that takes practice. The winners were:

Juniors

1st and Winners of the Melplash Agricultural Society Junior Shield:

Millie Carson and Grace

Wilcox - Wedmore YFC

2nd: Enya Hayball and Harry Curtis, Beaminster YFC

3rd: William Fooks and George GoringeBeaminster YFC

Intermediates

1st and Winners of the Melplash Agricultural Society Shield – Joanna

House and Lauren Hutchings, Marshwood Vale YFC

2nd: Elizabeth Bell and Emily Bell, Wedmore YFC

3rd:Sophie Raymond and Owen Swatridge, Beaminster YFC

Seniors

1st and Winners of the Francis W Hunt Trophy: Jasper Love and Henrietta Love, Sherborne YFC Best Newcomer – George Goringe, Beaminster YFC

Highest Placed Individual – Elizabeth Bell, Wedmore YFC

The Francis Hunt Cup was first presented to the society 50 years ago by F J Hunt (the grandfather of society chairman Philip Hardwill’s wife Sarah) in memory of his son Francis.