2014 President’s Medal winner
NAME: Thomas Hill PREFIX: Hydaways and Hillstar CLUB: Staffordshire MEMBER SINCE: 1989
Being brought up on the family farm in
Tamworth by parents Steve and Pat alongside sister Lucy, Thomas was keen to help on the farm as soon as he could walk. “This is one of my greatest achievements
ever,” said Thomas. “I’ve always aspired to do well in the President’s Medal – it is the stand out award for HYB. I feel it has been a very credible achievement.
“The process of the competition really got me thinking about what I could give back to HYB in the future. The interview day at Tel- ford was a great day and getting to meet the other finalists was good and I learned from them too. Having to research genomics for the essay was interesting, it made me look at things differently and I cer- tainly learned more about genomics. “Finally, the Semex conference in Glasgow was very beneficial, usually my Dad goes to conferences. It was great to meet lots of new people and there was plenty to learn and take away from the conference.” Having studied Agriculture at Harper Adams Thomas graduated with a BSc Hons degree in 2010 and during his time at college was part of the second placed team for the National Farm Planner of the Year Award. After graduating he took the oppor- tunity to see the world, travelling to Singa- pore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Canada as well as visiting America and travelling through Europe.
GET TO KNOW THOMAS
ABOVE Tom Stable from the Boltonmanor herd was a runner up. BELOW Runner up Georgina Fort from Yorkshire.
Thomas has a keen interest in technology and aims to use the latest technology to improve the genetic potential of the cows. Within HYB Thomas has always been an active member competing at national level achieving second and third places at the weekend rally and Royal Show.
What time does your day start? 5.30am to check the computers for the robots, fetch cows in that haven’t been milked and start feeding and scraping. How do you relax? Going out with friends or spending time with my girlfriend, Rebecca. What is your favourite sport? Football, I played competi- tively for a number of years and was also vice captain of the second XI University team. I still play occasionally and enjoy watching, particularly supporting Manchester United. What is the best cow you’ve ever seen? Thurlane James Rose at Royal Winter Fair 2008 and she was outstanding. What makes your ideal cow? Really good mammary sys- tem, capacious cow with good legs and feet. If you weren’t a farmer what would you be? Only other thing that I ever wanted to be was a professional
footballer...more of a dream! What is your favourite food? Pasta Favourite film? Any James Bond film If you were to be a super hero who would you be? Batman because he doesn’t have a set super hero power – he did everything himself! What aspirations do you have? I’d like to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship in the future.
“I gained a lot of experience through being selected on to the Cogent Futures Programme, it gave me the opportunity to tour Ireland looking at bull dams and breeding families. This was particu- larly important to me because I’m interested in the breeding of cows and Holstein genetics, particularly to improve cow performance. “In 2008 I was also privileged enough to be se- lected to be part of the Semex Walk of Fame at the Winter Fair where I got the opportunity to work with some great cows.
“I was also delighted to be nominated by the
Staffordshire Club to take part in the Holstein UK Calf Judging School and was proud to finish second.
THE JOURNAL APRIL 2015 27
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