The following pupils should be congratulated for their amazing ambassadorial efforts.
Millie Coleman, Caitlyn Brown, Solomon Brookes, Ben Roberts, Jasmine Yeomans, Ben Broughton, Phoebe Broughton, Shannon Watmough, Harriet Beaton, Honor Halket & Annabelle lane.
Over last weekend they exhibited the schools sheep, having halter trained and cleaned them, in a variety of different competitions, often against farmers, and children of farmers for whom this type of showing is part of their business and something they do most weekends. This was a national competition and not once did they look out of place. Every judge and steward had nothing but praise for all of them.
After a particularly hard competition on Sunday, a businessman from Leicestershire was so impressed with the students efforts he approached the chief steward and put down the entrance and prize money to create a school specific category at the show. This is unheard of and is purely down to the efforts of our students. And off the back of this there will be schools categories at future Staffordshire shows. We won the school class.
In addition, I had several senior people from agriculture approach me over the weekend with offers of factory tours, talks and of developing other links with the school. These are people who I have known for years, in some cases, who are making these offers purely on the professionalism and attitude of our students.
Special praise should go to Ben and Phoebe Broughton who came 5th and 6th in their young handlers competitions, only being beaten by handlers who this type of competition is a way of life and to Annabelle Lane for coming 5th in the senior competition.