The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Young judges will Showcase abilities
Agroup of next generation judges has been unveiled for the beef classes at next month’s Royal Highland Showcase.
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), which is organising the livestreamed event, has announced a 13-strong judging panel of cattle enthusiasts for the showcase.
It said all the beef judges for the event – which takes place on June 14-20 in place of the Royal Highland Show, which cannot be staged in its normal format due to Covid-19 restrictions – have all either come through the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ stockjudging programme or are young breeders from previous shows.
The group of judges will be tasked with assessing their own sections before jointly judging the native and continental
interbreeds and interbreed pairs using a points system, with judges excluded from scoring their own breed.
“We are thrilled to be presenting a top tier of young talent as this year’s beef cattle judges,” said RHASS chief steward of the cattle lines Kay Adam, who farms at Newhouse of Glamis, near Forfar.
“Each individual is well qualified to take control of the rings having excelled in their own right as stock judges and breeders, and we are excited to be giving our next generation an opportunity to shine as part of this year’s innovative showcase.”
The judges are: Beef young handlers – Avril Aitken, Perth, Perthshire; Beef Shorthorn – John Mcculloch, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway; Aberdeen-angus – Andrew Adam, Forfar, Angus; Galloway – Steven Taylor, Stirling, Stirlingshire; Belted Galloway – Judith
Cowie, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire; Highland – Dexter Logan, Alva, Clackmannanshire; Hereford – Abbie Anderson, Arbroath, Angus; Charolais and British Blonde – Ellis Mutch, Banff, Aberdeenshire; Simmental – Tom Bruce, Ellon, Aberdeenshire; Limousin and commercial cattle – John Graham, Stirling, Stirlingshire; British Blue – Stephanie Dick, Stirling, Stirlingshire; Salers – Adam Crockett, Hawick, Roxburghshire; and Lincoln Red – Steven Taylor, Stirling, Stirlingshire.
RHASS competitions manager David Tennant said: “This year’s showcase will be beamed across the globe and having young talent judging in the rings sends the message that Scotland values its next generation of farmers and livestock breeders, and that we have complete confidence in their skills and expertise.”