| 2016-05-27 |    |
Newton Rigg Students Success at Leading Cattle Event
Congratulations are in order for agriculture students from Newton Rigg College who collected a range of top awards at Beef Expo organised by the National Beef Association.
In the individual stock judging section, Will Rodgerson, Jack Baldwyn and Rebecca Ellwood collected first, second and third prizes respectively having had to place four steers in order of carcass conformation and give their reasons to Laurie Ibbotson of Dovecote Park. To add to the success of the day, the first year Level 3 students were interviewed by BBC Radio 4's prestigious Farming Today programme about judging and grading cattle.
Newton Rigg College students who successfully competed in the stock judging competition at Beef Expo, l-r: Rebecca Ellwood, 17, third place, from Penrith, Will Rodgerson, 16, Appleby, first place, and Jack Baldwyn, 17, placed second from Redditch.
In the Future Beef Farmer Challenge the college's five teams secured second and third places against stiff competition from no fewer than 17 teams. The Challenge involved four different tasks - judging fatstock, biosecurity and herd health, nutrition and feed and estimated breeding values. Taking 2nd place were Will Rodgerson, Jack Baldwyn, Matt Maclaren and Rebecca Ellwood with Bradley Sutton, Kym Walton, Vicky Beal and Naomi Cross placed third.
Also at the event, students assisted the NBA in judging Breed Society stands, interviewing Society members about their cattle and their stands. The top award went to the Herefords.
Charlie
Maclaren, Newton Rigg College lecturer, who
accompanied the students said;
“This was a wonderful opportunity for students
talk to members of the industry, make key contacts, compete successfully
at the highest level, and see an important part of farming – the
show ring. They were a credit both to the college and themselves, I am
very proud of them.”
