Perth show

With the 2021 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...

Ruby Simpson (14)

Can you give us a bit of background about yourself and your family.

I am Ruby Simpson, I'm 14 years old. I have two younger brothers; Charlie (13) and Lough (10). and we stay on a hill and upland farm called Mains of Creuchies, just outside Alyth in Perthshire with my Mum, Dad, Granny and Grandad. We keep suckler cows and a small flock of sheep. My Great Grandad bought the farm and moved from Fife, 40 years ago.

How did you get involved in livestock and showing?

From my young as I can remember I have always enjoyed being around livestock. When I was about nine or 10-years-old I helped bottle feed a Texel cross pet lamb called Hettie. that turned out to be a decent lamb and after my Pappa (Walter Wyllie) dressed it and I saw the results everyone thought it would be a good chance to enter her in our local show and I really enjoyed it.

That’s what got me interested. I won the young handlers and decided to go back the next year, when I won again!

Do you have preferred breeds?

My favourite breeds of cattle have to be Limousin and British Blue but I also really like working with horses, heavy horses especially. I also love hatching and rearing ducks and geese as well as keeping hens.

I have three geese and a lot of wild ducks that come down to the pond at the farm. I hatch ducks and chickens.

I think the only thing we've not had is donkeys – we've even had goats.

What stands out to you about these breeds? What qualities do you feel they have compared to others?

I like these breeds because Limousins have a nice style and character and I love the Blues because they are usually very docile and easy for me to work with. I like heavy horses as they are very sweet and ducks because of their personalities. I like hens as well as they also have great personalities and manage to sell a box or two of their eggs which allows me to buy an ice-cream on the show day.

What was the first show you went to? Do you have a favourite show to go to?

The first show I went to was our local show, Alyth in 2016 with my pet lamb Hetty, when I was ten. I was lucky enough to win the young handler sheep class. Norman F Ogg kindly sponsored both the cattle and sheep young handler classes with 1st place prize money of £50 for each section. After great words of encouragement from Norman Ogg and the £50 prize money (which seemed a lot of money for me as a 10-year-old) these were great incentives for me to return the following year to show my bottle fed calf Betty. This time winning the young handler cattle class.

I really enjoy Perth Show but the highlight of my show year would to be the Royal Highland Show, followed by our other local show, Strathardle.

What is your favourite thing about showing?

I just love preparing the animal for the show ring and all the work that's involved and I get a real buzz from being in the ring with all the people watching.

I really want to go to the Highland when I'm older – if dad lets me. I would probably show cattle. I've been a good few times for a day and really enjoyed it.

What has been your biggest success in the show ring?

When I was 11 we had a suckler cow that calved breach and we ended up having to do a c-section on her. It took a wee while to get her back on her feet so my Dad got me to start giving the calf some supplementary milk to keep him going. Once the cow had recovered and was well enough to milk again, Mum took up her role again but the calf never forgot me, so I took him around the show circuit that year and I named him Bill Black, we went to Fife, Alyth, Kirriemiur and Perth shows and ended at Strathardle Show being champion in the cattle classes. The cattle steward, Roy Nicoll, came up to the cattle ring to see if I would manage to take Bill Black down into the sheep ring for the champion of champion judging, which I duly did. I think the spectators around the ring that day were gobsmacked to see me bring Bill Black into a sheep ring for judging. To both Roy and I's delight he never put a foot wrong in the ring and we were awarded champion of champions. There was such a buzz, the memories will stay with me forever.

I recently won the young handler and exhibitor classes in virtual cattle classes for this years Perth show, with my British Blue heifer, Petal, so that's this year's success!

Have you had any disappointments so far?

There have been a few disappointments but I try not to dwell on these. One of the most prominent however is when Betty, my bottle reared calf, that we hoped to introduce to the herd would not hold to the bull, she therefore had to leave the farm, earlier than expected.

Who would you say you look up to, in showing? What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

love listening to all the stories from my Pappa about his showing years - which has encouraged me. In showing I look up to Wilson Peters, who has been generous with tips along the way.

The best piece of advice I have been given is to handle my livestock confidently and to make sure I enjoy it - win or lose!

Do you help out on the farm at home?

I have helped out on the farm as long as I can remember. I especially love jobs involving livestock, particularly at lambing and calving time. I am not so keen on gathering stones!

What are your hobbies or interests out with showing?

I'm enjoying getting a start with my local Young Farmers club, Strathmore. I did the stock judging last week and was one point off beating my Pappa!

I enjoy entering the classes within the Industrial Tent at my local shows, I enjoy baking, sewing, crafting and am a keen artist.

I enjoy hill walking, cycling and have recently been enjoying wild swimming with my cousin Caroline in our pond.

I like to get out on my horse and cart when I have time and the weather allows.

Do you have plans for the future? Do they feature agriculture?

I have no firm plans but hopefully something to do with agriculture.

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

Don't be put off, Just do it, make it happen and enjoy it.