The back end is in full swing, like so many other auctions across the country we are now into our harvest, silly season if you like, with sales coming thick and fast.
Breeding sheep are superb to sell, females of all classes and noticeably the bigger stretchy tups which will put weight into the finished lambs.
Store cattle continue to flourish off the back of the prime trade which continues to set new records week after week and our second-hand machinery throughput is making remarkable gains this year with a full calendar of dispersal and collective sales all receiving huge support.
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North East Live
As I write this, we have just hosted our inaugural North East Live show, albeit an exhausting process we are immensely proud of what we achieved and for a first attempt we consider it a very successful venture.
The togetherness of our industry becomes apparent at these events and displays a communal strength which we are very proud to be a part of.
Forget the trophies and rosette winners for now, the success for me was measured by the wonderful well wishes and messages of appreciation I received both pre- and post-show; that made the efforts all worthwhile.
So, when the dust settles, we will analyse our first foray into holding a national show, we will hold on to the positives and try our best to iron out any negatives.
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We welcomed trade and livestock exhibitors from all three home nations to Darlington, it was a wonderful day, the people were a pleasure, the show they put on was incredible and we are already looking forward to doing it again next year.
I am sure you will read elsewhere of the successes in our show rings, both sheep and cattle of the highest quality were on display and congratulations go to all the prize winners.
They all took home the most stunning rosettes crafted by an impressive young entrepreneur who I stumbled across months ago, Iona Park at pedigree rosettes is a name you will all do well to remember, she will go far. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
To thank everyone involved in the process of holding such a large event would be impossible; judges, stewards, exhibitor's volunteers and mart staff alike all pulled together and made it happen, I am however going to continue complimenting the next generation and single out one integral organisation, God bless the Young Farmers.
Young Farmers
Plenty of bad press surrounded the YFC at their AGM in the spring of the year but let me tell you this, they are absolute diamonds, they offered to help at North East Live, they were asked to park the cars and they did it with military precision organisation and a constant smile on their faces.
These young folk all across the country offer assistance and support to our industry time and time again, they support local shows and raise funds for charities constantly and often gain little recognition for doing so.
The farming community would be a much poorer place without YFC, even in the woke, fragile society they have grown up in they somehow manage to shine bright and they must be commended for doing so.
Hard-working young people are rare, farming has held on to theirs and long may that continue, if one weekend in Blackpool each year to let their hair down is all they need then so be it, I'm just sorry that I'm too old to join them.
