DESPITE the doom and gloom surrounding the future of farming following Labour's Budget the farming community turned out in their thousands for one of the finest showcases of livestock in the UK.

Held at Borderway, Carlisle, the Borderway Agri Expo, hosted by Harrison & Hetherington, cemented its standing as a unqiue platform to share knowledge, celebrate excellence and present the very finest of British livestock.

In the Cattle section, this year’s Supreme Champion was Wilodge’s Limousin cross steer ‘Baby Rambo’, who was presented with the Royal Smithfield Club Jim Stobo perpetual trophy together with the Robert L Scott Memorial trophy and Reserve was Taylor Holloway’s home bred British Blue cross heifer ‘Calypso’. In the sheep section, the Supreme Champion Pair of Lambs went to R Hall & Son of Inglewood Edge, near Dalston, with Reserve Overall Champion Pair of Lambs to Jack Whiteford of Brampton.

On announcing the Overall Supreme Champion Judge William Smith said, “Today we have had a wonderful line-up of stock. I chose the Supreme over the heifer because it has an exceptional depth of line and flesh on the top, it is an exceptional beef animal and a deserved winner. The Reserve is a very clean animal, well balanced, and she just caught my eye as soon as she came into the ring.”

Scott Donaldson, Managing Director of Harrison & Hetherington said: “At the risk of being repetitive, once again this has been a fantastic show of livestock from start to finish, and a huge crowd, I think my highlight was watching the young handlers coming out, it is absolutely superb to see these young people come out to show their stock. It has been a marvellous day, and I cannot thank everyone who has been involved enough.”

“Of course, the Budget has introduced significant changes, and it will have real implications for family farms, but despite this, it is inspiring to see the adaptability and optimism in the farming community here today.”