Culter Allers, Biggar, home of the Kingsbeck herd, hosted the Jersey Cattle Society of the UK's 139th agm on Tuesday, where Mrs Kathy Le Brun, was appointed new president.

The agm, led by outgoing president, John Stubbs of Coldeaton Jerseys, Derbyshire, also saw the appointment of two new directors to the Board, John Waller and Phil Arrell.

Mrs Le Brun has a long association with Jerseys. For many years she acted as club secretary of the Southern Jersey Cattle Club and always supported many Society events, from assisting Anne Corner in the Jersey Pavilion at Stoneleigh in its most successful Royal Show years to regularly attending Jersey Young Breeders weekends to offer a helping hand.

John Waller farms in partnership with his father Robert, on a pedigree dairy and sheep farm of 400 acres in Killington, down the Lune Valley, between Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale. A family run farm, they have 100 Holsteins and 60 Jerseys under the Killington prefix, and 400 commercial sheep.

John’s wife, Kate and daughters, Sophie (21) and Natalie (18) have been the main driving force behind the Jersey herd, first founded in 2002. The Waller family have enjoyed successes at their local shows and John has judged Jerseys at shows across England including at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. Current Secretary and a previous Chairman of the Lakes Counties Jersey Club, John is going to embrace a term on the Society Board.

Philip Arrell also joins the Board, with a lifetime’s passion for genetics and pedigree breeding. As a genetics services specialist for Genus Breeding Ltd, he is involved with sourcing the Jersey Genetics for the UK including sourcing a few bulls from Jersey breeders to go into stud. Having always had a keen interest in the Jersey breed, he has a small herd with his wife, Jane, Thistlerose Jerseys, and they enjoy showing with daughter, Isla (Sweetpea Jerseys).

Philip is aware of the changing times within the dairy industry, and he acknowledges the need to breed and promote a functional and efficient animal is paramount, commenting

“We as Jersey breeders have the cow to do this and I am very keen to be involved in delivering what our members want,” he said.

Retiring board member, John Whitby of Raylands Jerseys,was awarded the Weydown Trophy in recognition of his commitment to the Society in his 10 years of service on the Board.