Fife Show - Lexi Wilson

With the 2020 show season once again falling foul of Covid, and most summer shows once again not taking place, we've asked the individual show societies to nominate a young handler or two, for us to speak to, and get their outlook on shows, and the wider industry. After all, they are the future.

Running in a similar order to the show calendar, we're looking forward to hearing what the next generation have to say...

Fife Show – Lexi Wilson (13)

Have you been brought up on a farm?

We have a small holding at Glenduckie, near Cupar, in North Fife, where I live with my dad Charlie and mum Jill.

We have a flock of Jacob sheep, which we run alongside some Valais Blacknose. We used to have Aberdeen-Angus cattle too, but we have given them up for the moment, but you never know what will happen in the future!

I have 25 Jacob ewes ewes and seven tups just now.

I also have horses, which I love. Just now I have three Welshes and one Clydesdale, so they take up a good bit of my spare time, but I really enjoy it.

How did you get involved in the showing side of things?

I mainly show sheep just now, but I also attend a few things with my horses. I really enjoy Pony Club events.

I really got into showing when we moved to Glenduckie and we met our neighbour, Barbara Webster.

Barbara is in the Jacob Sheep Society and she also works for the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, so she really started to encourage me to get involved.

She is really keen on showing and goes to lots during the summer, so from the age of four or five I used to go with her to shows and got the bug from there. I was really lucky that she was so happy for me tag along! I’ve been all over Scotland with her, down to England and to both northern and southern Ireland. I help her show her sheep, and show my own as well.

She also takes me to rare bred sales as well, so I learn a lot from her.

Do you have a preferred breed?

When it comes to shows, you don’t get so many classes with the Valais, just young handlers’ class really, so it’s mostly the Jacobs that I show in the normal classes.

Regardless of that though, I wouldn’t say that the Jacobs are necessarily my favourite breed, I just have the chance to show them more.

I probably prefer the Valais because they’re more docile and easier to handle. I do have more Jacobs though, and I have some real characters. The Valais have the cute factor mind you, there’s no denying that!

What shows are your highlights each year?

Fife was the very first show I went to, so it’s always got a special place for me. It’s also one of first bigger shows of the summer, so you get to see everyone again, and you also get to see what people have in their show teams, and what you might be up against that year.

Further afield, I really enjoy going to the Black Isle Show. Everyone up there is so friendly, and really welcoming. It’s a big show as well, so there are loads of different sections and great entertainment, too.

I feel like, the further up north you go, the more laid back and relaxed it sometimes gets!

I actually have one funny memory about the Black Isle. One year we decided to stay over and we bought a new tent and some camping gear, we were all packed everything in the car, trailer on and sheep loaded, ready to go, we then got a call from someone who was already up there to say it was a complete washout, and not a place for camping so that was the end of that plan, I never got a shot of the new tent that year.

We ended up just leaving very early in the morning and going for the day, I was quite young and was excited about camping, so was disappointed at the time, but looking back, it’s a funny story!

What’s the best bit about showing, for you?

I love all of it, the whole process, but I do really enjoy the preparation before the actual show. I enjoy the washing and dressing, and getting things sorted!

The excitement before the classes is great as well, it is such a good buzz. It’s just rewarding to see something ready for the ring, knowing you’ve put in the work before hand.

What’s been your top showing moment, so far?

I would probably have to say when I won 1st prize at Fife, in the young handlers.

The section is really big – over two rings – so there are quite a lot of people involved. You’re also up against all breeds, which can be quite tough for the Jacobs sometimes, when they’re competing with the commercial breeds, so I was really please with that. It’s hard for a judge to go between natives and continentals when it comes to young handlers, so that was a moment I’m really proud of.

Any disappointments in your show career?

Last year was the first year I had my sights set on showing at the Highland. Obviously, that didn’t happen for anyone, but I was really disappointed I must admit.

I didn’t enter for the showcase. I’m hoping that things are a bit more normal next year, and that I can go then.

I’m just disappointed to be missing the shows in general. I’m so used to going to so many of them. That’s a whole crop of lambs that haven’t been shown, so if we want to show any of them next year, that’s going to be harder, too!

There’s no point in getting things ready, when we have no shows to go to.

Who’s been your biggest influence in the show ring?

Barbara, without a doubt. She has been a big help and influence. She has won the Highland Show with Fireballs, her Jacob tup, in 2018, I think, so that’s the ultimate thing to aim for, as far as I’m concerned!

The best bit of advice I’ve been given is to go with your gut when it comes to choosing which sheep you are going to show.

Do you help out on the farm at home?

Yes, I have my jobs at home. I helped a lot with fencing during lockdown. Dad spent lock down re-fencing most of the fields and we planted loads of trees, so I have helped with that we planted 750 trees. I’m great with wire tensioners and tree guards now, if anyone ever needs a hand!

Apart from showing, how do you unwind?

I do a lot of horse riding and go to Pony Club. I also enjoy art, and cake baking and decorating. I also like going to shoots with dad but that has also been on hold with lockdown.

As far as school is concerned, maths and English are my favourite subjects just now.

What are your plans for the future?

Quite fancy doing farm veterinary or going to agricultural collage. I also like the idea of bringing on young horses, so we’ll just have to see – definitely something agriculturally related.

Do you have any tips or advice for other young people trying to get in to showing?

Just go and give it a shot! You’ll soon make friends with the same interests, so that’ll encourage you and build your confidence, too.

I’d also encourage people to try any workshops or courses that breed societies are offering. Both the Jacob Sheep Society and the and Aberdeen-Angus youth development program run things, and I have been to both.

It’s hands on training for clipping, halter training, and generally working with sheep and cattle. It’s really good. Show’s you how safely do these things.

I would say to do that, because you get a lot of knowledge and confidence and you meet lots of people. If you’re not confident around an animal, they’ll pick up on it, so these courses have really helped me