AWARDS launched three years ago to honour the life of a young farmer have taken place this year with virtual judging due to the pandemic.

The Louise Hartley Award was launched in 2017. In celebration of her life, the Louise Hartley Memorial Fund was set up to give a youngster with an interest in agriculture the chance to further their career. The winner of the award is an Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) member, aged between 18 and 22, who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed, Holstein Young Breeders and their own Breeders’ Club.

The 2020 winner of The Louise Hartley Award is Jonny Woodhouse, from Lancashire. Sponsored by World Wide Sires, Jonny will have the opportunity to visit their Global Training Centre in Washington State to attend a practical training course.

Jonny joined HYB in 2010 and has represented Lancashire HYB on numerous occasions at UK and European events including ABAB, Open Junior Show in Cremona, German Masters in Verona and Junior European Championships in both Colmar and Libramont.

At only 21, he has already made a mark on the showing stage having bred two honourable mention winners at the ABAB Calf Show. Jonny works on the family farm, prefix Shoreline, and regularly helps and supports the younger members of Lancashire HYB.

The Littlestar Award is presented to a HYB member aged 17 or under who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed, Holstein Young Breeders and their own club.

The 2020 winner of this award is William Neale, from Cornwall. William started showing cattle at the age of eight and joined HYB in 2015. He continues to show and breed cattle with the WJH prefix which he started in 2018 and has his own flock of Texel sheep. He also helps his dad with their pedigree Limousin and Aberdeen Angus herd.

Hannah Williams, head of events for Holstein UK, said: “We hope that next year we can host the ABAB Calf Show as normal and bring all HYB members together again to learn, network and have fun.”