TV star Fern heads into the competition ring
A Barnsley farm is hoping to bring back a gong for its hometown as it takes its most popular cow to an agricultural show for the very first time.
Farmer David Nicholson – whose family run the award-winning visitor attraction Cannon Hall Farm – will be stepping in to the show ring at the Great Yorkshire Show (July 9 – 11) for the very first time with his favourite cow, a Highland called Fern.
Fern has been at the farm since earlier this year, after David’s dad Roger joined the Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright at a cattle auction in Oban and fell in love with her. She is considered one of the best examples of her breed and has become a firm favourite with farm visitors.
She appeared on Channel Five TV Show Springtime on the Farm and has given birth to a calf, Ted, who was named after a cuddly teddy bear because that’s what he looks like.
It will be the first time the farm has entered an animal into any category at the Great Yorkshire Show and its appearance will be supported by TV production company Daisybeck Studios.
David said: “We’ve had to do a lot of training, Fern has to be led around the ring on a halter so we have to walk together every day. We are really proud to represent Barnsley and hope to bring home a rosette. It certainly will be a new experience for us but we are incredibly proud to show off our fabulous animals.”
Cannon Hall Farm opened to the public in 1989 and is still very much a family business, with the Nicholson family living on site and working on it still.
They decided to compete after a suggestion from its fans on social media, who respond to the farm’s regular live videos.
Cannon Hall Farm is open to the public every day (except Christmas Day) and runs a packed programme of activity for visitors including tractor rides, sheep and ferret racing, meerkat talks, milking demos and more.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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