They say time flies when you are having fun, and considering I've already been at Harper for well over a month, I must have been having a lot of fun.
There is certainly enough here to keep us busy. Last week I experienced my first silent disco, had my first course social in Newport (with the theme "anything but clothes") and experienced Mankini Appreciation Day in support of the Everyman cancer campaign.
I have also managed to acquire the title of "Farmers Weekly Girl", although it will be impossible to mention everyone in column who has requested it. My friend Charlie also told me that my column makes good toilet reading. Thanks, I think.
A more pressing matter is my workload. I have already been given assignments in each of my five modules: Academic development, personal development, crop production, animal production and agricultural marketing.
I am pleased to say that I have handed my first one in under my chosen title of "The importance of livestock selection and judging to improve returns in beef production" - the perfect topic for me considering my enthusiasm for stock judging. I am much less enthusiastic about producing reference lists, thanks to the constant fear of being called to see the principal for plagiarism.
Coming from a livestock background, I am particularly enjoying the new territory of crop production. We are currently working on the YARA Wheat Challenge which involves growing our own plots of winter wheat. Animal production is also providing us with a lot of laughs as the girls seem to be showing up the boys in many of the practical sessions, especially when it comes to turning over ewes.
Off campus, our house is getting increasingly colder as we are trying to keep the heating bills down. But I am pleased to announce that we have successfully paid our first water bill and we are now the proud owners of an internet connection. Unfortunately, our talents don't extend to recycling and putting the bins out on the right day - illustrated by the mass of bin bags, bottles and cans currently stacked outside the front door.
Within two weeks of enrolling at Harper, I was already off on my travels, starting with the Anglo-Irish Limousin Young Breeders judging competition. Feeling less than bright-eyed the morning after the Freshers' Ball, I headed off to Kilkenny with my fellow England team mate Matt, but the journey was disastrous. After a four-hour flight delay and three hours on a bus, we finally arrived, but not before I'd tested out a few unusual sleeping places - a Costa coffee table being my favourite.
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Harriet Wilson
19-year-old Harriet Wilson is starting a BSc in Agri-Food Marketing with Business Studies at Harper Adams. Back home she manages her own herd of British Blue cattle on the family's 260-acre farm in Haughton, Stafford.
As well as halter training cattle to exhibit at regional and national shows, Harriet is an active member of Staffordshire Young Farmers. |
After a practice judging competition we went along to the stockman's dinner, which totally took me by surprise with its black tie dress code, three-course meal and entertainment. I could only compare this event to being at the Brits. Or maybe the Farmers Weekly Awards.
The competition took place the next day at the Beef Expo event and there were two parts to the competition; handling followed by judging with reasons. The weekend was a great opportunity to see high-quality cattle at a top-class event, and we were pleased to finish in third place as the England team.
To round off the month, my sister and I took two of our show cattle up to Borderway Agri-Expo in Carlisle. As the cattle bolted off the wagon to the other end of the market, I started to dread showing the next day. However, they decided to behave themselves on the day, which was just as well because there was an excellent show of cattle and a huge number of spectators.
It is quite strange in a way to think that my Dad was taking us to Carlisle as toddlers and now we are going up to exhibit while my parents stay to look after the farm. Looking ahead, the next show for us will be the English Winter Fair. However, my sister will be taking over the reins as I will be stock judging yet again, but this time in Canada, representing the British Blue Cattle Society.
• You can find out what Harriet has been up to by following the College Calendar blog at www.fwi.co.uk/college-calendar
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