The English Winter Fair took place last weekend and eight Somerset YFC members aged between 14 and 26 years old travelled to the County Showground, Stafford to compete in this highly contested competition.

Nighteen teams entered from eighteen counties across England and Wales this year and resulted in a very high level of competition, Young Farmers were able to judge Live Beef and Sheep classes and Lamb and Pork Carcase Classes.

After several months of practising, Somerset YFC had a very successful day. Cutcombe YFC member Katherine Bigwood came away with a respectable first place in the Senior Live Beef competition and Jock Muirhead, also Cutcombe YFC came away with a fantastic second place in the Senior live lamb competition.

As a pair, Katherine Bigwood and Bridgwater YFC member Jake Sayer placed first in the live beef section, as well as the live team consisting of Jock Muirhead, Emma Clothier, Jake Sayer and Katherine Bigwood winning the The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Stockjudging.

The team consisted of Jock Muirhead , Katherine Bigwood and Charlotte Scott all Cutcombe YFC members, Jake Sayer (Bridgwater YFC), Emma Clothier (Farrington Gurney YFC), Alice Coombes, Eve Hooper and Grace Whitcombe, all Polden Hills YFC members and as a county, Somerset YFC placed 3rd overall.

Stockjudging and Carcase judging competitions remain a very important and competitive sector in the Young Farmers Federations across the country, as this day has demonstrated so well. The facilities at the English Winter Fair are ideal for YFC to showcase this.