Harper Adams University reclaimed this year’s Dairy Student Award crown as Florence Turley was named the winner at RABDF’s Dairy-Tech event earlier this month. The runner up was Olivia Egerton from University Centre Reaseheath.
The competition saw the final round debate take place on the Skills Studio at Dairy-Tech followed by the two finalists interviewing competition judges Robert Craig, Chloe Cross and Chris Bartram.
Competition organiser Emily Egan said having the presentation and debate at Dairy-Tech increased the profile of the award and finalists to a wider audience.
Five semi-finalists were selected from the original entries to attend an interview in London where they gave a presentation on ‘the UK dairy industry in the next ten years’’. Candidates were marked by a panel of judges based on criteria such as structure, delivery and arguments from which the two finalists were chosen.
Award winner Florence Turley said she felt privileged to have won such a prestigious award and was looking forward to making plans for the summer.
She continued: “I would love to travel, particularly to the Scandinavian countries to learn more about how they achieve such high levels of herd health and welfare and how genetics and genomic testing plays such a vital role in their breeding policies.”
Dairy Student Award winner Florence Turley and runner-up Olivia Edgerton with (L-R) Chloe Cross of Kite Consulting, Chris Bartram of award sponsors Mole Valley Farmers and Head Judge RABDF Vice-Chairman Robert Craig
Robert Craig, RABDF vice-chairman and head judge said the standard of finalists was extremely high but Florence and Olivia gave excellent presentations with in depth discussion on what the future holds for our industry.
“RABDF is committed to encouraging new entrants through our training courses and awards and it’s great to have entrants take part each year from a variety of different backgrounds; some with no farming experience whatsoever. This clearly shows the desire of high calibre young people to join the dairy industry is as strong as ever with these two finalists proving the sector is in capable hands.”
The competition saw students invited to complete an essay based on a case study prepared by Kite Consulting. This featured a 300 dairy cow family unit, currently achieving marginal profitability and managed by a farmer seeking a long term plan to ensure the viability of the farm for his son when he retired. Five finalists were shortlisted from the essay entries and invited to attend the final round interviews.
Chris Bartram from award sponsor Mole Valley Farmers, RABDF vice chair’s Robert Craig and Di Wastenage and Kite Consulting’s Chloe Cross were this year's competition judges.