Our Sid!
WHO KNEW that agri-business veteran, Brian Pack, had a deep dark secret!
Packie was recently received an honorary doctorate from Aberdeen University, but the citation revealed that his middle name is the unfashionable soubriquet, Sydney! 
The former ANM Group chief and one-time CEO at Mackies has had a hard time of it recently, health wise, but as our picture in this issue shows, he seems back on fine form. I think a gentle ribbing about his middle name will be in order from those who know him!

Show judges get a treat
I HAVE to commend the good people of the Tyrone Farming Society for the tremendous effort that they put into their annual Omagh Show each year.
Having judged there 27 years ago at their 150th show, it was good to go back for the 177th to see the transformation that had been brought about by the society selling its old show site (it’s now a Marks and Spencer) and moving to a purpose-built HQ still within easy reach of the town.
A great idea was a welcoming barbecue the night before the show for officials and judges instead of a formal dinner. Many of the judges came from Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic – just to keep things impartial – and they all thought it was a great idea and ideal for meeting fellow judges. 
With Blackies providing the biggest spectacle of more than 200 sheep – of both kinds – it was fitting that the supreme sheep, a ewe lamb, came out of that section.
That and the overall cattle champion, a 17-month-old black heifer called Valentine, would not have looked out of place at the recent Royal Highland Show.
And, the hospitality was first rate!

Behind the scenes
WHAT I thought would be a leisurely wind-down after Omagh Show, viewing the setting up of the NSA’s Northern Ireland sheep event, turned into quite a hard-working one.
Accompanying two breed officials, the Blackies’ Aileen McFadzean and Texel’s Fiona Sloan, who were intent on setting up their stands prior to the day, was quite a revelation.
Many sheep breeders who criticise their ‘workers’ on the show stand set-up should maybe spend a day setting it up to find out just how much hard work it can be.
Mind you, a dodgy battery on Aileen McFadzean’s Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association company vehicle, a Toyota RAV, meant that some of the hard work involved having to push it to start every five minutes!
Poor David Shedden, the BSBA vice-president and I, had to be revived in the Adair Arms Hotel later!