As I write this at the end of October on a lovely morning in Northumberland, it was a real pleasure to ride around the farm and see all the stock.
The Melbourne Show in Australia took place last month, and I was pleased to see a class held in honour of Joy Potter, who was not only a family friend but also attended many RASC Conferences. The Christchurch Show in New Zealand is coming up from 14th to 16th November, which I have been lucky enough to attend several times – always a wonderful weekend in Christchurch, enjoying both the show and the races.
Plans for the 2026 RASC Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, are progressing well, so keep an eye on our website for updates next week.
Here at home in Northumberland, most of the cattle are inside and settled into their daily feeding routine. The rams are out with the ewes, and the horses are all in work – there seems to be quite a few heading up the gallop each morning.
Our eldest son, Will, and his family are back in New Zealand. The lambs were tailed last weekend, and this week they’ve even had some snow. Will is eager to get some summer crops in the ground.
This afternoon, wearing my Royal Smithfield hat, I have the pleasure of presenting the Smithfield Trophy at Agri-Expo in Carlisle, England, – one of the most wonderful trophies to be awarded.
