IN a unique double, young Holstein breeders, Andrew Patton and Andrew Patterson, were crowned joint winners of the President's Medal, at the Semex Conference, in Glasgow, on Monday.

Awarded to a Holstein Young Breeder (HYB) member who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed, Holstein Young Breeders, and their own club, the President's Medal is open to young breeders aged between 18 and 26 years of age.

Each HYB Club is asked to nominate one young breeder for the competition, with the result being that six young breeders are shortlisted for interview with a panel of judges which this year included Holstein UK president, David Tomlinson; Sue Cope managing director of Cattle Information Service (CIS), and Peter Arthur marketing manager of Semex, at AgriScot, in November.

The top two winners were 25-year-old Andrew Patton of County Down, Northern Ireland and 24-year-old Andrew Patterson from Shropshire, who received an engraved President's Medal from the Holstein UK President, and won a trip to visit to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in Commenting on their wins, Andrew Patton, who is in Australia at present said: “I feel absolutely overwhelmed to be presented in Australia with the Holstein UK President’s Medal – it is a huge honour and I am extremely delighted. The year so far has been amazing having had the opportunity to represent HYB on an Australian exchange and now to win the President’s Medal. "I have been involved in HYB from a young age and it has provided me with endless learning and social opportunities. The HYB Australian Exchange programme I am currently participating in is enabling me to further experience other farming techniques and practices – and this is all through the wonderful work of the HYB organisation.”

Andrew Patterson from Shropshire added: “It is a huge honour to have won the Holstein UK President’s Medal alongside Andrew Patton. HYB provides young people like me with vital technical, business and husbandry skills that stand you in excellent stead for a successful commercial dairy career. Through HYB I have competed in showing cattle, clipping and stock judging – all skills I have learnt through the organisation since being a member from the age of 10.”