Agriculture, Animal Management, and Equine students put on an impressive display at Bishop Burton College during the 63rd Stock Skills competition.
Stock Skills prepares students for a large country show by preparing them for a variety of tasks. Each student prepares for the event by practicing grooming and clipping skills, and ensuring the animal’s diet means it is in optimum condition. They compete in Dairy, Sheep, Goat, and Equine classes. Competing requires the development of specialist skills and knowledge that can also be transferred to the workplace.
Currently in its 63rd year, the event is the oldest of its kind in a college in England. In addition to students’ families and friends, dignitaries and industry representatives attended Stock Skills at the Bishop Burton campus near Beverley.
Each entrant is judged based on how well they present, handle, and know their animal, as well as how well they present themselves. In addition to horse breeder Norma Grubb and livestock experts Rosey and Alisdair Dunn, the judging panel was headed by renowned Oxford Downs sheep breeder Bob Richardson.
In agriculture, Millie Dwight was named the overall champion and in equine, Becky Banks was named the overall champion. Among the Reserve Champions in Agriculture was Olivia Hemstock, and among the Reserve Champions in Equine was Liv Beresford. The Grooms Award went to Jess Winterton and Harvey Stockdale won the Farm Team Award.
Prizes were presented by Head Judge Bob Dunn, who is the founder of the competition.
Bob commented “It was very difficult to choose an overall winner this year as the standard was very high. The students were well prepared and highly knowledgeable – it takes a lot of patience and skill to get to that level. I love being involved in Stock Skills, it’s so worthwhile. For many students this may be the only occasion where they have the opportunity get an animal ready to show and it’s a real pleasure to see their hard work come to fruition. All the students should be very proud of their performances.”
Principal and Chief Executive Bill Meredith said “A huge thank you to everyone who has joined us today for Stock Skills in a unique celebration of rural life. As the college enters its 70th year, it’s wonderful to see such a great tradition continue to go from strength to strength. The competition is one of the highlights of the college year and much-anticipated by staff and students alike. Huge congratulations to everyone who has taken part – you should be incredibly proud of the high standards on display!”
Bishop Burton College supports the future of agriculture as one of the UK’s leading land-based colleges. The college pioneers precision agriculture and agri-food technologies by partnering with the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology.
You can find out more about the college and the courses it offers at www.bishopburton.ac.uk.
