Which will be the next pick for Liz Vance's show team

Knowing the show stars is her forte, with a heifer already picked out for the shows when they start back up…

Background?

I was brought up on a dairy, beef and sheep farm in Ayrshire, South Corton, which I was always involved in from an early age.

After leaving school, I worked at Dalblair Vets, in Ayr, as a vet nurse for five years, before Alister and I married in July, 2001, which moved me south to Wigtownshire. I then continued working as a vet nurse at Academy Vets, in Stranraer, for a further five years before our children came along – Gregor (14), Amy (13) and Sam (7).

Alister and I run a dairy, beef and sheep farm near Whithorn, Newton Stewart, which houses 150 pedigree Holstein cows, 150 commercial beef cows, 60 pedigree Texel ewes and a small flock of Bluefaced Leicester ewes – which are Gregor and Sam’s – and Amy’s two horses ... I’m not allowed to forget them!

Our dairy is a fairly new venture established in 2017, based on two Lely robots, whilst the beef herd is predominately Limousin cross British Blue cows put back to the Limousin bull, with a few pedigree Limousin females and two pedigree Aberdeen-Angus females, which are Amy’s.

What got you involved in showing?

It is hard to recall just when it all started. As a family, we always supported our local shows, Ayr, Dalrymple and Coylton. We always got a day off school for Ayr Show, which was the highlight of the year!

I think I probably caught the ‘showing bug’ when my brothers, William and James (Kerr) started showing commercial calves at the Ayrshire YFC Rally. That is when I started to get involved with the haltering, preparing and showing of the calves.

It was through showing that Alister and I met. Ayr Show has a lot to answer for!

Is it challenging being a woman in agriculture?

It is only more challenging if you let it be. I think nowadays women are accepted into agriculture far better that they were years ago ... not sure if it is just because there are more of us, but times have changed.

Highland Show achievements?

We have been fortunate over the years to have won the commercial cattle section at the Highland twice, firstly in 2005 with Eye Candy, a black Limousin cross heifer, and again in 2014 with Betty Boop, also a black Limousin cross heifer.

I have a soft spot for flashy, correct black heifers, they are very pleasing to the eye. We also bagged the reserve ticket in 2006 with another similar type called Candy Ass, so you can see that this type has done well for us.

Best animal you have ever shown?

Betty Boop our Highland champion in 2014. She was a pleasure to work with, great natured and every time you stepped in the ring with her, she knew what to do. She won numerous championships that year before we sold her in 2015 as an in-calf heifer for a record price at the time of £8500.

The all time favourite, Betty Boop

Best animal you’ve ever seen?

In recent years it would be Trueman Noreen, a 13-month-old Limousin heifer which I had the pleasure of judging at the Balmoral Show in 2018. I tapped her out as my inter-breed champion that day. She had everything you want in a Limousin heifer her age – conformation, style and locomotion.

In the commercial world, it would have to be Royal Smithfield champion, Dancing Queen, from Hugh and Lynn Dunlop. She was just perfection, even down to every last hair on her body. We were lucky enough to follow her all the way to reserve heifer champion that day with our heifer, Eye Candy.

What are you looking for in a beast?

I was always told when looking for the perfect show beast to start at the head and work your way back. I have found over the years that this is very true. Conformation, locomotion, and style is what I look for in show cattle of any breed.

Judging experiences?

I have been very lucky over the years to have judged a lot of shows. It has taken me from one end of the country to the other and across the water to Ireland.

Have commercial cattle changed for the better?

Like everything, they are changing all the time. Different styles and fashions. To keep at the top you need to follow the changes.

We possibly need to remember the locomotion of the cattle when it comes to the extreme carcase breeds. The show characteristics can sometimes be lost.

Abiding memory?

On a slightly different note, I will always remember my very good friend, Lynsey Bett (McKay) climbing the tent pole in the beer tent at the shows. To this day, there is no one can beat her up the pole. Always knowing she had made it to the top with her celebratory whistle.

Biggest disappointment?

Anyone who is passionate about what they do will have disappointing days. Smile, never show your disappointment.

I can always recall one day that really made us realise how unlucky showing can be, it was at the Highland Show, going into the championship with three cattle, you would think you had a real shot at the championship, we ended up being reserve overall, being pipped at the post by a Welsh bullock, The Wart, shown by Robbie Roberts and Will Owen – to this day we still have a real laugh about it every time we meet up.

Most influential person?

There have been lots of people giving me advice over the years which I have always taken on board. I have learnt that good stockmen don’t like to give away their tricks of the trade, but if you give them plenty of drams, they soon start to drop hints and suggestions (Dennis and Dougie).

Hugh Dunlop has been a family friend for many years and I always watched what he was up to and asked for advice, which he was always willing to give.

Alister has always been there for advice, too. We work well together as a team 24/7 and would often pick the same cattle in the show ring, not saying that we always agree, but 9 times out of 10 we do!

Favourite show?

It would have to be the Highland, closely followed by the Great Yorkshire. I do also enjoy all the smaller local shows, they have a great atmosphere.

As a family everyone gets involved at show time – it is our holidays after all – I will soon be able to retire from the show ring, not sure how I will cope with being on the sidelines.

Best stockman?

It is very hard to choose an individual as there are so many great stockmen out there. For me it would be Ian Anderson and the late Ewan McPherson, as they have always taken the time to talk to me and give advice.

Best kist parties?

Kist parties are only what you make of them. I don’t think I have been to a bad one. Royal Smithfield, in Earls Court, took a bit of beating as they lasted for days! But the Highland kist parties are always ones to remember. There are a few stories I could tell ... but sometimes what happens at the kist party stays at the kist party !

Interests out with farming?

I don’t have much time for any other interests out with farming. I spend any free time that I have at shows, or taking Amy to Pony Club rallies at the weekends, which is good fun. I am also a director of the RHASS and Wigtown Agricultural Society, which I enjoy being a part of.

If you could change one thing, what would it be?

For farmers to be price makers, not price takers.

Biggest showing achievements?

We have been fortunate enough to have had quite a few championships.

Among many other local show prizes and inter-breed awards, we have won our local show champion of champions four times over the past 20 years.

We are hopeful that some of the shows will go ahead this year as we have a future champion in the shed! It’s a heifer calf from our 2018 Livescot reserve champion heifer, Too Glam to Give a Dam. We will see what the future brings for her…

What do Gregor, Amy and Sam enjoy most about the farm life?

Gregor and Sam are more into their Bluefaced Leicester sheep, and Amy prefers to show the cattle and enjoys her horse riding.

Both Gregor and Amy have done well in the Young Handlers sections over the years. Gregor was reserve overall beef young handler at the 2019 Highland on his first time exhibiting there. Amy has enjoyed the taking part in Young Limousin Breeders Club events, which has been great for getting youngsters involved – she was best newcomer in 2018 and went onto win junior young handler in 2019. Sam has also had a few prizes with his calves and Bluefaced Leicester lambs over the past few years, which I’m sure will continue.

How can youngsters get involved?

There are lots of ways for youngsters to get involved in agriculture and showing from an early age. RHET is great for educating the next generation. Young breeders groups like the Limousin and the Angus Youth Development Programmes are great for teaching them the skills.

It is really important to keep the next generation interested in the farming industry. SAYFC is a great organisation for youngsters to join, but they need to make the most of the cattle and sheep dressing competitions and demonstrations as this is a key factor sometimes overlooked by the younger generation.

Best investment?

A good pair of wellies, especially if your feet are in them all day. Along with our lambing and calving cameras that have saved us many cold nights, and of course sexed semen for my Holstein dairy cows !

The future of the showing circuit?

I do hope there is a future for shows. I would hate to think that the next generation would miss out on what we have had over the years. It is not just for the younger generations, as shows are a lifeline for the older generation to get out and meet friends.