Stock-savvy girls filmed for Countryfile
A film crew from the BBC’s Countryfile programme added some extra excitement to Bishop Burton College’s annual stockmanship competition this year.
Presenter Matt Baker and the Countryfile cameras followed students on the Extended Diploma and First Diploma Agriculture programmes as they prepared for the showring.
The programme focuses on 17-year-old twins Lizzie and Vicky Appleyard and Jess Graves, also 17, who were among the students allocated an animal to enter into the competition.
The overall champion was Megan Thomas, 17, from Cowling, near Skipton, North Yorkshire. She won her dairy heifer class and then went on to claim the overall title.
It was a fitting coincidence that Megan won this year’s title, as the Countryfile team was especially interested in spotlighting the growing number of females entering agriculture.
Female students now make up 21% of all agriculture students at Bishop Burton College, compared to 8% five years ago.
Jeanette Dawson OBE, principal and chief executive of Bishop Burton College, said: “Our annual stockmanship day is always very special, but it has to be said the arrival of Matt Baker and the Countryfile crew created an extra buzz this year.”
The competition will feature in tomorrow’s (26 May) episode of Countryfile