Distinguished Service & Commitment to Industry Celebrated at UK Dairy Day 2018 

Holstein UK, organisers of UK Dairy Day (Wednesday 12^th September), took the opportunity to present two prestigious awards to deserving Holstein breeders at this year’s show. The Holstein UK Distinguished Service Award and Holstein UK Howard Sneesby Memorial Trophy were presented at the event. 

 

Distinguished Service 

The Holstein UK Distinguished Service Award was presented to Keith Davies by Holstein UK President Peter Waring. The award is eligible to members’ employees who have given 25 years continuous service involving not more than two employers or two pedigree herds.

Winner, 79-year-old Keith Davies, was nominated by the Shropshire Holstein Club for his dedicated service. Born in Lydbury North, Shropshire, Keith started his dairy career working for the Griffiths family in the summer holidays of 1953; he was the third generation of the Davies family to do so. In 1954 Keith started working on a small dairy farm when he left school prior to starting at Walford College at which he won the RD Parks Trophy for Top Dairy Student 1955/56.

Keith started full time with the 'Montgomery' herd as Assistant Herdsman on the 7th September 1959 and this is where his love of showing cows really started with many shows being won, including The Royal, Royal Welsh and Champion Bull at the famous Reading Bull Sales in 1965. He progressed to Herd Manager and then overall Farm Manager. He worked in this capacity for the Griffiths family until he retired after over 54 years of full time service. Keith still works for them part time in his 'retirement', managing the farm interests now that the Montgomery herd is dispersed which brings his total service to 59 years. His continuing energy for his job and loyalty to them is shown by these many years of service. 

Keith has many other agricultural interests and was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Society for his contribution to agriculture. He currently sits on the Livestock Committee for the Royal Welsh Show and received a Lifetime Service Award from the show in 2004 for services to the Society, particularly on this Committee.

Keith is an active member of the Shropshire Holstein Club Committee on which he has sat since 1961. He was Chairman in 1962/1963 and also held the post of President in 2010. Keith really has put his lifetimes work into the Friesian and Holstein breeds and the Shropshire Club are extremely proud and privileged to have nominated this true gentleman for this prestigious award.

 

Howard Sneesby Memorial Trophy

Congratulations went to Yasmin Bradbury and Bill Nadin of the Sterndale and Peak prefixes based in Derbyshire, who were presented with the Holstein UK Howard Sneesby Memorial Trophy. 

The Award recognises those members who have made a significant difference to others through constant support and encouragement. For over 15 years, Yasmin and Bill’s farming partnership has built a wealth of breeding and cowmanship knowledge and experience, supported with a passion for showing. Ten years ago, they showed at the National Show with 18 animals and one was placed in the top six.  Today, you cannot believe that this partnership would attend a show and not be in contention of winning a championship! Whether they achieve success in the show ring or not, Yasmin and Bill genuinely care about encouraging new exhibitors and their support of fellow breeders is exemplary. 

Sue Cope, Holstein UK CEO, commented; “Holstein UK was delighted to present these awards at UK Dairy Day and we congratulate the winners. Awards like this provide a platform to acknowledge, showcase and shine a spotlight on some of the unsung heroes of our industry. We need to recognise the success of these committed, hardworking and passionate individuals to demonstrate the strength of and to carve the future of British dairying.”