Agriculture students from St Albans won one of the most highly sought after rosettes at this year’s Herts County Show.
Oaklands College’s homebred Suffolk shearling battled against hundreds of other sheep, of various breeds, to secure the Inter Breed Sheep Champion rosette on the final day of the show.
This breed has a signature dense coat against black legs and head.
The college also secured reserve in an Inter Breed Competition round with their longwool Teeswater.
Oaklands farm manager Del Knowles said: “We have been working hard to build a reputation for the college at the Herts County Show– a key event both for the local community in our county and the wider regional agriculture community in East Anglia.
“To come away with a top award twice over is a great achievement and reflects the hard work put in by our students.”
Pupils studying agriculture enter livestock into the show’s sheep and cattle competitions each year. It can be the first time the students are scrutinised by judges in a public arena.
Other entries are submitted by farming professionals and other specialist colleges.
The college’s director of student experience, Sean Scully, said: “To see our students handling in front of the general public with such professionalism and expertise is wonderful.
“Their hard work and achievements mean all the more with recognition and support from their peers in the agriculture community and we thank Herts County Show for the opportunity to showcase this unique part of college life at Oaklands.”
Thousands of people descended on Redbourn showground for the County Show at the weekend – which also offered a variety of circus fun, show jumping, cars and other attractions.
Spectators enjoyed cattle, sheep, equestrian and show jumping displays in the various arenas on the site.
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