Adrian Ivory is having a busy autumn.
As well as having organised harvest and the establishment of winter crops at his family’s Strathisla Farms at Meigle, he has spent much of his time helping to put together a considerably changed Stars of the Future pedigree young stock show.
Held successfully for the first three years of its existence at Forfar Mart, this year the event is moving to Stirling Agricultural Centre and will play host to an even bigger entry of cattle.
Adrian, who is chairman of the eight-strong organising committee, said: “Entries this time have surpassed all our hopes and backed up our decision to move to Stirling.
“We felt Forfar would not have been able to handle the number of entries we have this year.”
In fact entries, standing at 410 across nine breeds, will be up around 100 on the year and there are also 21 entries so far for the popular young handlers classes.
“It is very encouraging. We have seen increased entries in every breed bar one and have cattle coming from as far afield as Orkney and Devon,” said Adrian.
The show, which will be held on November 16 starting at 9.30am, will, as previously, have free admittance for spectators and free car parking.
“Stars of the Future seems to have a formula that works,” added Adrian.
“It is a quietish time of year on farms and it has built up a reputation as a friendly show.
“It is also the first chance for breeders to showcase their best pedigree calves.
“July to December-born calves are too young for the summer shows and,especially for bulls, this might be the only chance to see them before the February sales.”
There will be classes for both young bulls and heifers as before but this year there will be a change in the championship classes.
The overall judge, Arwel Jones of genetics company Genus, will select a senior Continental champion and a junior Continental champion before awarding senior native and junior native championships.
There will be no overall supreme.
In previous years there has been no separation between native and Continental breeds at overall championship level.
There will also be an alteration to the judging arrangements with three rings used instead of five as before.
Adrian said: “We had a few comments that the judging rings were on the small side so we have opted for three larger rings.
“It should suit both exhibitors and spectators and I am confident we can judge three breeds in each ring plus championships and still be finished by mid-afternoon,” said Adrian.
“There will also be trade stands and I am grateful to our sponsors for making the event possible. The aim is to make this the premier multi-breed calf show in the UK.”
Breed entries are Limousin 87, Simmental 71, Charolais 41, Aberdeen-Angus 51, Shorthorn, 53, British Blue 36, Hereford 26, Highland 25, British Blonde five.
The organising committee members are Adrian Ivory (chairman); Harry Emslie, Mintlaw; Audrey Anderson, Arbroath; Neil Caul, Auchterhouse; Carol Rettie, Alloa; Robert Paterson Jr, Dunblane; Willie McLaren, Blackford; David Brown, United Auctions; and John Redpath, Kilry.