Wednesday 7 May

Young Ambassador Jessica has Builth Wells and the world at her feet

Already a busy year for young cattle breeder, Jessica Evans, 2008 is set to travel the world as Welsh Black Cattle Society's new Young Member Ambassador.

The 25 year-old Gwynedd County Council public protection officer from Harlech will take up office at the Society's annual meeting this Saturday (May 10), as well as receive the trophy for Small Herd of the Year 2007.

Brought up in a family of Welsh Black breeders, Jessica joined the Welsh Black Cattle Society at the tender age of 13, establishing her own herd in 2001. Her Gerddi Bluog herd was established with four breeding cows and calves from her parents' organic Gerddi herd, which was established by her father Elwyn in 1969.

Jessica keeps her herd on a 30 acre small holding in the mountains above Harlech and two miles from her family's farm at Gerddi Bluog.

All cattle on the holding are out-wintered at 700-800 feet above sea-level, and are therefore extremely hardy. The herd also has 'Elite' herd health status – which conferred on a herd which is certified monitored free of Johne's disease and certified accredited free of BVD IBR and Leptospirosis.

Jessica, who is a graduate of the University of Wales Institute Cardiff , has had much success with her herd; in 2005 her home bred young bull won Champion Bull titles at the Nefyn and Oswestry shows.

While at last October's store cattle sale in Dolgellau where her 17month steer weighed 640Kg and sold for £705 making it joint Highest Priced Steer.

Since establishing the herd she has sold seven breeding bulls in the Society sales, averaging over £2,000, so far keeping the females as breeding replacements.

Said Jessica, “I have been around Welsh Blacks all my life, and my greatest achievement to date has been to win the Small Herd of the Year competition 2007, a competition which my father has won several times.

“I am delighted to be taking on the role of Young Ambassador, representing the Society and promoting the breed.

“As part of my duties I hope to travel to Australia in November to attend the Welsh Black world conference and have the opportunity to meet other breeders from around the world.”

Jessica's first official engagement will be next week's Royal Welsh Smallholder & Garden Festival (May 17/18) at Llanelwedd. In addition to promoting the Welsh Black breed she will enter a pair of cattle in the Best Cow and Calf competition.

In addition to the cow and calf competition the Society will enter a further two competitions: the Promotional Stand competition - which the Society has won twice previously – and the Best Maiden Heifer competition, in which Jessica's mother Susan will be entering an organic heifer.