This year’s Holstein UK AGM and Celebration will be held in Staffordshire on 17th-18th September, when renowned Staffordshire breeder Tom Cope of Huddlesford fame will assume the Presidency, making him the first farmer from Staffordshire to hold the office. The AGM and Celebration are being sponsored by NWF Agriculture.
“The two day event will have something for everyone,” Tom explains. “Delegates will be able to visit some of the leading dairy farms in the region, as well as a tour of the NWF mill and blending facilities and a full social programme. For the first time as part of the celebration of the Holstein and British Friesian breeds, the event will include a dairy showcase hosted at Huddlesford, where farmers will be able to view around 60 cows from at least 10 of the top herds in the region.”
Tom has been a member of the Staffordshire Holstein Club for over 40 years and is a past Club Chairman and current President. He was also instrumental in setting up the Staffordshire Holstein Young Breeders Club after a lifetime devoted to breeding outstanding dairy cows.
The Cope family has been at Huddlesford since 1936 when Tom’s father, also Tom moved to the farm and established a herd of 30 British Friesians and, in so doing, made the Huddlesford prefix one of the long-established in the country. Tom now runs the farm with wife Bev and son Andrew.
The family have had considerable show success over the years. They were Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor at the 2010 National Holstein Show and Premier Breeder at the 2009 event. They won the Supreme Championship at the Royal Show three times and the Supreme Championship at the Dairy Event on four occasions. In total they have won 120 show championships.
It will be possible to attend the whole Celebration or just attend specific event and further details will be announced shortly.
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