Meet Britain’s youngest cowboy
LITTLE Jenson Gunn must be Britain’s youngest cowboy.
He’s only just over a year old, but is already proving that scooping top honours at a prestigious farming show is child’s play.
This very young farmer and his two-year-old Simmental heifer, Mavsey Golden Pride, have been going through the opposition like a hot knife through butter.
Last week, Jenson’s heifer was champion Simmental at the Caithness County Show in Wick, beating his parents, Jonathan and Joanne, into second place.
He also won the overall cattle championship and Mavsey Golden Pride was declared champion of champions.
And a week before that, Jenson and his heifer swept the board at the Latheron Show, wining champion of champions there, too.
Add a second in class at the Royal Highland Show and it’s clear the pair are really going places.
Hardly surprising then that toddler Jenson’s first word was: “Moo”.
At the family home, Mavsey Farm, near Lybster, Caithness, dad Jonathan, 35, said: “For Jenson’s Christmas I registered him with the British Simmental Cattle Society and transferred the heifer to his name. So it’s now his heifer.”
Proud mum Joanne, who with Jonathan, runs a pedigree Simmental herd, added: “He’s the youngest young farmer in the society.
“Trouble is, he keeps beating us.”
Then she told of how Jenson was introduced to the farming show world when he was only seven days old – and was a winner even then.
She said: “We went to the Latheron show last year and he had little toy cow. They gave him a prize in the young handler group.
“He travelled to all the shows locally last year.
“This year he’s taken his heifer to the Royal Highland Show, Latheron and Caithness.“
“He’ll be taking her to the Back Isle and Perth as well.
“He’s tremendous around the cattle, he just loves it.
“Jenson likes smiling and everyone gets to see his five teeth. He’s not shy, and is always keen to help.
“He likes seeing the cattle and his heifer and shouts ‘Moo’ at them.
“Mavsey is a real pet. She likes cuddles and kisses and loves being pampered and dolled up for the shows”.
Jenson has a bit of growing up to do before he can show Mavsey Golden Pride around a show ring himself as she weighs in at an impressive 820 kilos, so that job falls to mum and dad.
Emma McInnes, youth development officer for the British Simmental Cattle Society said: “I know the family but did not know that the heifer was a gift.
“Wow, what a Christmas present.
“Let’s hope Jenson’s success continues for years to come.
“It’ll be brilliant to see him come through the ranks as he grows and progresses.
“He’s a real little star”.