Beef Cattle The Farmers' Country Showdown


Beef Cattle

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Across the country,

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thousands of farming families work tirelessly around the clock.

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Argh! Stop arguing, girls, give over.

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WHISTLING

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But there's one day each year

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where they get to leave the daily routine behind.

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Right, here we come, Dorset!

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These are show days...

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-TANNOY:

-A very, very warm welcome to Malpas Show.

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..where they come together as a community...

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..to showcase the fruits of their labour.

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I just love showing my girls off.

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And try to win prizes for their breed champions...

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-Smashed it.

-BLEATING

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..and award-winning produce.

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That's a really nice cheese, that.

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It was very good, darling.

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There will be highs...

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That's what we want to see, red, red is the best.

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..and lows...

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She's not happy enough to go.

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..for the dedicated farmers who give everything to walk away a champion.

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Fingers crossed!

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Cattle farming is one of the most

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traditional forms of farming in the UK.

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Today, we're meeting two families

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whose lifeblood is connected to their herds.

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Beef cattle farmers Robert and Sandy Tedbury from Sussex

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and Hertfordshire-based Bridget Borlase

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are busy preparing

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for one of the largest cattle championships in the country.

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Come on! Go on, Gem.

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Winning awards helps boost the reputation of their livestock

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and their business, so there's a lot at stake.

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All year has been leading up to this event

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and both families have their eyes on the prize.

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Rural Hertfordshire is home to hundreds of farms.

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And Bridget's family

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have been working this farm for five generations.

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Come on, girls.

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Always loved the cows.

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When I came back from school, my father said,

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"That's where your passion is, you know,

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"get on and you run that side of the business."

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Having grown up on the farm,

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Bridget now lives there with her own family.

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Wave to him, Sammy.

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And five-year-old son Sam already has farming in his blood.

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I'm already five

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and when I'm six I'll be able to trim my sheep on my own.

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-Isn't that right, Mum?

-It is, son, yeah.

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The farm has been in the family for 80 years

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and breeding cattle has always been close to Bridget's heart.

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My passion, right from when I was probably Sam's age,

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was pedigree livestock.

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Always loved the cows.

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Bridget's grandfather, Bert,

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first introduced the Simmental cattle to the farm

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and now Bridget has grown the much-loved herd to 250.

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I've spent more time reading the herd books

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of how the cattle were bred than I ever did studying at school.

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MOOING

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ENGINE REVS

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-Excuse my driving!

-SHE LAUGHS

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To manage a farm this size takes much dedication

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and Bridget is up at dawn every day,

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relying on her farm buggy to get her around.

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It's one thing as a farmer,

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we spend as much time driving in reverse as we do going forwards!

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So, it's always really annoying when you meet people on the road,

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on a narrow lane, that can't reverse.

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It's always a bit of a standing joke with farmers that

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the driving tests should be done in reverse.

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Bridget's spent her life on this farm,

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but this devoted cattle farmer can't get enough of it.

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I know all the names of the cows,

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probably more than all my friends' names, but I do.

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My other half, James, thinks it's slightly sad,

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but he likes cutting them up in the butchery!

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MOOING

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The reason James likes cutting up the meat is because he's a butcher.

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While Bridget is busy in the field,

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James is running the family's two butcher's shops,

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selling meat from their own cattle.

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Orders come into me from any time from nine o'clock at night

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through till midnight, very often beyond,

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and we start at six o'clock in the morning.

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The couple first opened the butcher's shop ten years ago

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to try to boost business after the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

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It completely knocked the UK livestock industry for six, really.

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Many, many farmers were struggling,

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particularly the sort of family farms, as we are.

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So we were looking for something to diversify into,

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had no idea really what we'd be good at, or what we should do.

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But, by chance, really,

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our local council encouraged us to think about selling our own meat.

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We hadn't a really got a clue what we were doing

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but we were guided by an ex-butcher who said he'd help us out.

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And it snowballed from there, really.

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We supply in the region of 20, 25 retail outlets,

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anything from restaurants right the way through to just little cafes.

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Today, we're delivering pork, lamb and beef.

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We had one restaurant that rang us up urgently,

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"Can you supply six sirloin steaks?"

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We were closed.

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So, "Yeah, how soon do you need them?" "We're serving starters now!"

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So I had about a 15-minute turnaround from the call

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to get six sirloin steaks to a restaurant.

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We did it, got it done, great feedback.

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Morning, guys, how are we? Morning.

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-Morning, Tom, morning, Brad.

-How are you?

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Yeah, fine, thank you.

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There you go. Thank you, my friend.

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-So, this is Tom - the chef/owner.

-Hi, there.

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A multi-talented chef.

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He's nearly as good as me, actually!

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I've taught him all he knew! Knows.

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They think they work as hard as we do,

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-but I think we can beat them!

-HE LAUGHS

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80 miles away, in Sussex,

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farmers Robert and Sandy have been up since 6am,

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tending to their 440-acre farm.

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There's an endless list of daily jobs.

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Good girl, Iris! Hello, sweetie.

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I think, with farming, definitely they say it's in your blood

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and I think that's right because it's not a nine-to-five job.

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Unlike Bridget and James, who diversified to boost business,

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Robert and Sandy have to rely on the income they make from breeding.

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I am seven days a week, 365 days a year.

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I cannot afford to employ anybody.

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The income that I can make from what I do

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will not service another full-time or even part-time person.

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I do what we can manage without employing help.

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As well as working on the farm,

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Sandy sometime supplements the family income

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with a little part-time cleaning.

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MOOING

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That leaves Robert to deal with the day-to-day running of the farm.

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As a modern-day cowboy,

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he has the tricky task of rounding up 100 cattle,

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not on a horse, but in a four-by-four.

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Hello, boy.

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Pedigree Aberdeen Angus. Eight years old.

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Born and bred in Oxfordshire.

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Great Chew Jericho he's called.

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He has to move them round between fields

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to make sure they graze evenly.

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Come on!

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It's a huge undertaking that he has to perform alone.

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Come on, come on!

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I've got to go and protect my Land Rover now

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because they'll decimate it.

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MOOING

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Tsk! Go on!

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Tsk! Go on!

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But with cattle weighing up to 1,000kg,

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rounding up a herd can be dangerous work.

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In Britain alone, they have been responsible

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for over 75 deaths in the last 15 years.

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That's what happened to quite a heavy, robust gate,

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with two bulls, one each side of it, wanting to get to each other.

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They didn't get to each other, but they broke the hinge

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and they made the gate look like Bacofoil.

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Good girl.

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As well as dealing with his own herd,

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Robert also has to look after Sandy's pride and joy,

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her Highlands.

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Come on! Come on, girl.

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This way. Come on.

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I saw my first Highland

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35-plus years, actually more than that, I think.

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We were up in Scotland.

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I just thought they were beautiful.

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I love the long hair, I love their big horns.

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I just fell in love with them,

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so I then started collecting China Highlands.

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But Robert wanted to take Sandy's collection one step further.

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I decided that I'd buy the wife a couple of calves.

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I think it was an anniversary present,

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-it could have been a birthday.

-No, it was anniversary.

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To actually have the real thing, it was all my Christmases in one!

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That is one of their favourite places of being brushed.

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I could always sell them if we split up and parted.

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We kept the animals and they were Highlands.

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And their numbers have gone from two to 50.

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Sandy just can't resist them.

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If a Highland animal at a sale licks her hand, it's in, it's coming home!

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Just got to lick her hand, that's all it's got to d.

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It could kick her, but as long as it licks her hand, it's coming home.

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It's not quite like that.

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Back in Hertfordshire, Bridget is nervously waiting for the local vet

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who works with over 100 farms in the region.

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Hello, how are you?

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Hello. All right, thank you. How are you?

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She suspects one of her prize-winning cows,

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who's off to the show, might be pregnant,

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something she's been hoping for.

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Getting her bred hasn't been as straightforward as it normally is.

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Every time she's been in season has been when we've been away from home,

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at a show or something.

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We'll be over the moon if we have a positive result.

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So it's fingers crossed that she's taken.

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I'm just scanning with an ultrasound scanner, like humans do.

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A calf from a champion mother is worth a lot to the farm

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as they can sell for thousands of pounds.

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She's pregnant.

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That's really good news that she's in calf.

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Thank God for that.

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Just checking for twins now, and make sure there's nothing...

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About 10% of our calvings would be twins.

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We did have a set of triplets last year but that's exceptionally rare.

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So, yep, just the one in there.

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Like I say, heartbeat, so it's a live foetus,

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-and taken a picture as well.

-Thank you.

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It's a great result for the farm,

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but the prized mum-to-be is already carrying a few extra pounds

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in preparation for the show, which is not ideal.

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They're specially fed to go to shows.

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It takes six months really to feed a cow to have it in perfect condition.

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You're looking to get a bit more roundness and shape,

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build it up slowly.

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If you try and feed them very hard quite quickly,

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all you get is lumps of fat, which isn't what we want.

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We like them to be, we say, fit not fat.

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-Unfortunately, show condition is on the fat side.

-Bordering on fat.

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-Yes. She is a little bit chunkier than I would like.

-Yes.

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She's just gearing up for the big diet. I'm going to join her.

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THEY LAUGH

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MOOING

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With the pregnancy confirmed,

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Bridget can now focus on the all-important show day.

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Going to do shows is, for the cattle, our shop window.

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Bridget spends hours getting them to a certain specification.

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It's only 24 hours to go

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and her cows have to look their best to impress.

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First impressions as a judge are very important.

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You want an animal to immediately hit you when it comes into the ring.

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"Yeah, I like that. I wouldn't mind taking that one home."

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If we can win some prizes, it can add value to that animal.

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It can add value to that animal's progeny.

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We're are all vying for that silverware.

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They're set with hairspray.

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They smell great on show day!

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These cows have as much money spent on their haircare

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in a year as I do.

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Back over in Sussex, show day preparations are also in full swing

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with prize-winning cow Gem, the apple of Sandy's eye...

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Oh, hello, you.

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Oh! You like that.

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..being given a wash and brush-up.

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She's my favourite.

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I suppose because I started with her in the very beginning,

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so I've done all the training with her.

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The best bit about Gem is what we call homebred,

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so she's my own breeding.

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If you're lucky enough to win with a homebred, it feels even nicer.

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To be a winner at the show, it's all down to what the judges think.

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Nothing's guaranteed.

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One judge will pick one animal,

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another judge will pick a totally different animal.

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There may not be very much between them

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but the judge is always going to be right on the day,

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even when he's wrong.

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Right or wrong,

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for Sandy, it's all about showing people her beloved Highlands.

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I've got to say, of course I'd like to win.

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But, part of it, I love, just love showing my girls off.

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They're just beautiful.

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For Robert, coming first is everything.

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We like to win. I don't do it to be there.

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All this money and all this time we've spent,

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we have to go and do everything to the best of our ability to win.

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With the big day tomorrow,

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it's finally time to get the show on the road.

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Aye!

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But this is a challenge in itself.

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Some of these have been to shows and they're seasoned campaigners,

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and they'll, we hope, load quite easily.

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Some haven't been at all before,

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so it can sometimes be a little tricky.

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It's Gladiator the bull's first time away from the farm,

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so he's a little cautious.

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Bridget's son, Sam, is keeping well away.

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It's always a bit tense, loading up.

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Making sure that they get on alright.

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We take our own hay because we know where it's come from,

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it's been made here,

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so they'll go to the show and be on exactly same food.

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Meanwhile, Bridget's still struggling with Gladiator.

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Come on.

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Bring the passports down - they're just to the left of my chair.

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Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.

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Paperwork has to go with the animals.

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Each animal's got a passport.

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The only thing it hasn't got, like yours, is a picture.

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Come on.

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And Gladiator's finally on board.

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It's now time for the rest.

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All right, you get Fara, Ben.

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Tsk-tsk.

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I will hopefully be going down for a day,

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which I'm not too bothered about,

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although she does get a little touchy over it.

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They get up really early,

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pretending to fluff them and talcum powder them

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and make them smell nice.

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And I can just stay up and make sausages, it's easier!

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HE LAUGHS

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Drive steady, you've got valuable property on there.

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Safely onboard,

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all Gladiator and the other cattle can do now

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is to get their beauty sleep, ready for tomorrow's show.

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Today, the Edenbridge And Oxted Agricultural Show

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will open its doors.

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Home to one of the largest cattle championships in the country,

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this prestigious event is a highlight of the farming calendar.

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Most of those competing have camped at the showground overnight.

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But there's no time for a lie-in on show day with so much to do.

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You want them to look nice

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and to go out with a dirty bottom wouldn't look right,

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so they've go to have a clean bottom.

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Robert and Sandy have been up since 4am

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making sure their cattle look the part for the show ring.

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I'm apprehensive, I'm nervous

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because, when you look in the shed, you think,

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"Oh, is that one better than mine? Is that going to beat me?"

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So you are nervous that you're going to make

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the very best job for your animal and for your businesses at home.

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You're going to show your cattle off

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to the very best of your ability on the day.

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You don't really know whether you've done that until it's finished.

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Bridget has also been up bright and early.

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I left the children with my parents in the caravan

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at five this morning. I managed to creep out

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and come down here to give the cattle their breakfast.

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It's the lull before the storm.

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Always nervous on show morning.

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You've got butterflies in your tummy,

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you're kind of anxious as to how you're going to get on.

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The competition's looking fairly strong this morning.

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Fingers crossed that we're going to do OK, but you never know.

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As competition time approaches,

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spectators are starting to fill the showground.

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Around 40,000 people are expected at the show

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to experience the very best of Surrey's country life.

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-TANNOY:

-Everybody's going very nicely out there.

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With judging starting in less than an hour,

0:22:160:22:19

Robert is giving the last-minute touches to their Highland hopefuls.

0:22:190:22:23

Get the parting down through the middle,

0:22:230:22:25

get it straight and get it tidy.

0:22:250:22:27

Shining up the horns, it's just baby oil.

0:22:280:22:32

Horns are an important part of the Highland animal.

0:22:320:22:35

Sweeping up for girls, sweeping around for the boys.

0:22:350:22:38

It's just finishing off the finer detail, that's all it is, really.

0:22:400:22:44

So, last-minute spray and a combing and brushing

0:22:450:22:49

and then, going out, you will see that we will do their feet.

0:22:490:22:53

That's the very last thing we do.

0:22:530:22:57

And then up to the show ring, and fingers crossed.

0:22:570:23:00

Over in the other pen, Bridget's also doing some final sprucing up.

0:23:010:23:07

We've got about six different shades of soap

0:23:070:23:09

and we try and match it as best as possible

0:23:090:23:12

with the actually animal's natural hair colour.

0:23:120:23:14

Quite nervous now - it always is.

0:23:140:23:17

It's always a bit of a rush, just the hour before judging.

0:23:170:23:20

We won't be talking to you in the last half-an-hour.

0:23:220:23:24

You can look and see, and that's it.

0:23:240:23:26

Morning, Bridget.

0:23:400:23:41

Ah, morning, you're here.

0:23:410:23:43

At last. Which hopefully means I've missed all the hard work.

0:23:430:23:47

-No, it doesn't. You can help me soap this one up.

-Ah, joy(!)

0:23:470:23:51

Farmers have been showing their prized animals

0:23:560:23:59

at the show since the middle of the 19th century.

0:23:590:24:02

This show's been running for well over 175 years now.

0:24:020:24:06

Edenbridge has a fantastic reputation

0:24:060:24:08

for really high-quality livestock entries and to win classes here

0:24:080:24:12

is something that many of our exhibitors aspire to

0:24:120:24:15

every year, to win awards that help them go on to improve

0:24:150:24:18

the saleability of their stock.

0:24:180:24:20

But it's not just about the livestock.

0:24:220:24:25

We've got a superb display of vintage cars, tractors.

0:24:250:24:28

We've got our fairground,

0:24:280:24:31

food hall where people can try different local produce,

0:24:310:24:34

all the sort of things you might associate with the countryside.

0:24:340:24:38

It's 9am and this year's cattle competition is about to begin.

0:24:480:24:55

Both families have done everything they can.

0:24:550:24:58

-Hold her there, say, "Stop".

-Stop.

0:25:000:25:02

My tummy's going, I'm feeling sick.

0:25:020:25:06

The fear, I suppose, of letting my animal down.

0:25:060:25:09

I think that's why, I don't know,

0:25:090:25:11

I just wish I never had nerves, but I do.

0:25:110:25:13

Months of planning,

0:25:130:25:15

feeding and grooming have all come down to this moment.

0:25:150:25:19

-How are you getting on then, Bridget?

-Yeah, nearly ready to go.

0:25:210:25:24

Just final titivating.

0:25:240:25:26

Semis have started, so we're pretty much ready to rock.

0:25:260:25:29

While Bridget waits for her moment,

0:25:290:25:32

in the Highland ring, it's showtime for Sandy.

0:25:320:25:35

She's taking in her pride and joy - Gem.

0:25:350:25:38

Wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait!

0:25:420:25:44

Can I come out?

0:25:460:25:47

Wait, wait, no, no, no, no! Ooh.

0:25:470:25:50

No. Good girl. Good girl!

0:25:500:25:52

Good girl, good girl.

0:25:540:25:57

Good girl. Good girl.

0:25:570:26:00

There's just time for a quick pep talk before she goes in the ring.

0:26:000:26:04

It's me and you. It's me and you.

0:26:040:26:08

Is it me and you?

0:26:080:26:09

And into the ring they go.

0:26:130:26:16

Judging the Highland cattle today will be Archie MacArthur.

0:26:160:26:21

Well, a Highland cow,

0:26:210:26:22

you know pretty quickly an animal has got personality or not.

0:26:220:26:26

Stand, stand.

0:26:280:26:30

Archie is looking for a beefy body and a good coat of hair.

0:26:300:26:34

You want a Highland cow to be good on its legs, lift its legs up.

0:26:360:26:40

You want a set of horns that are going to come out symmetrically

0:26:400:26:42

in the top of her head, make her look graceful.

0:26:420:26:45

Gem is up against three others.

0:26:550:26:58

MOOING

0:27:030:27:05

Good girl, good girl. Good girl.

0:27:050:27:08

Good girl. Steady, steady. Is that OK?

0:27:080:27:12

But it's not looking good.

0:27:120:27:14

It's OK.

0:27:140:27:15

We're not being very good.

0:27:180:27:20

-No, we're not.

-No.

-Oh, well, don't worry.

0:27:200:27:22

-There, lass.

-Good.

0:27:220:27:24

Coming into new surroundings and different people

0:27:240:27:27

is all quite strange to them,

0:27:270:27:28

so you have to take that into account

0:27:280:27:30

when you're looking at them and give them as much help as you can.

0:27:300:27:34

Good girl, walk on. Come on, come on.

0:27:340:27:37

Good girl.

0:27:400:27:41

Finally, Archie's picked his winner

0:27:480:27:50

and it's Gem who takes first prize.

0:27:500:27:54

But Sandy is distracted and doesn't realise.

0:27:550:27:58

Hello.

0:27:580:28:00

Oh!

0:28:000:28:01

SHE GIGGLES

0:28:010:28:02

And now she's on my stick! It's all going wrong.

0:28:020:28:05

Get up.

0:28:050:28:07

-Oh, God.

-How embarrassing.

0:28:070:28:09

-How embarrassing.

-THEY LAUGH

0:28:090:28:11

We've won as well.

0:28:110:28:12

I thought that she was a good animal.

0:28:120:28:14

well-balanced for her age

0:28:140:28:16

and I thought, "Uh-oh, this one might do."

0:28:160:28:18

And sure enough, as the show went on, she did do.

0:28:180:28:22

Sandy couldn't be happier with her beloved Gem.

0:28:220:28:27

Yes!

0:28:270:28:28

Yes, I won.

0:28:300:28:32

We done things wrong, but anyway we still got a red one.

0:28:320:28:36

So, excellent year. Good girl. Mwah. Right. Thank you.

0:28:360:28:41

And there's more good news,

0:28:410:28:42

as Gem's sister Cara has also come top of her class.

0:28:420:28:47

MOOING

0:28:470:28:48

Well done.

0:28:550:28:56

I love my cows, but I do love my husband.

0:28:560:29:00

Without him, none of this would be happening,

0:29:000:29:04

so I need... Yes, he's number one.

0:29:040:29:08

Now the spotlight is on Bridget.

0:29:160:29:19

Her judge today is fellow farmer Andy Ryder.

0:29:210:29:25

As soon as they come in the ring, I'm going to be looking at

0:29:260:29:28

something that stands out, you know,

0:29:280:29:30

and says, "Look at me", really.

0:29:300:29:32

And then you go for more of the finer points after that.

0:29:320:29:35

From its head back right down to its tail head,

0:29:350:29:37

you want a good width down its top line

0:29:370:29:39

and then, when you get to the rear end of it, you want a good shape,

0:29:390:29:42

especially on the bulls.

0:29:420:29:43

You want something with meat, really.

0:29:430:29:47

Bridget's also been a judge herself and knows what they want.

0:29:470:29:52

Now she just has to see if her cow Fara will tick all the boxes.

0:29:520:29:56

MOOING

0:29:590:30:01

Yeah, she's keen and eager to go, so off we go.

0:30:010:30:06

Though they have stiff competition,

0:30:060:30:08

as they're up against a former national champion.

0:30:080:30:11

All right, Jim?

0:30:120:30:13

'Jimmy McMillan, a bit of a legend in the beef-showing world.'

0:30:130:30:18

Jimmy and I are great friends, we have been for years,

0:30:180:30:20

but we're always vying to sort of

0:30:200:30:22

just try and sneak one on the other one.

0:30:220:30:24

Jimmy aside, Bridget has another

0:30:260:30:29

four competitors to try and beat today.

0:30:290:30:32

Good morning.

0:30:360:30:38

-She's June-born.

-June-born.

0:30:380:30:39

-Is she in calf?

-April-calving.

0:30:390:30:42

Sudden noises can spook the animals at the big shows,

0:30:460:30:49

so the farmers all use a stick to tickle the animals' tummies

0:30:490:30:53

and keep them happy.

0:30:530:30:54

Tsk-tsk.

0:30:540:30:56

Bridget is desperately hoping her pregnant show cow Fara

0:30:570:31:01

will beat her main rival.

0:31:010:31:03

But it's not to be, as Jimmy does it again

0:31:110:31:15

and Bridget takes second place.

0:31:150:31:18

Bridget's heifer was tremendous, but just not the power of the first one,

0:31:230:31:27

but still full of the characteristics

0:31:270:31:29

of the Simmental breed.

0:31:290:31:31

As Jimmy's winner takes its lap of victory...

0:31:320:31:36

Fair play to Jimmy, it's a really lovely heifer.

0:31:360:31:38

..it's back to the pen for Bridget.

0:31:380:31:40

Fara is six months younger than the one that won,

0:31:420:31:45

that makes a big difference in terms of their size and development,

0:31:450:31:49

so she's really held her own and I'm really chuffed to bits with her.

0:31:490:31:53

Let's hope it gets a little better,

0:31:550:31:57

but it's a really good start to the day.

0:31:570:31:59

Show days attract the farming community

0:32:040:32:07

and those who have never stepped foot on a field in their lives.

0:32:070:32:11

However, for the farmers, it's not just about winning prizes.

0:32:130:32:17

They work all hours

0:32:170:32:19

and this is a chance to spend some quality time together, as a family.

0:32:190:32:22

-We had some of those.

-Which is our favourite one there, Samuel?

0:32:230:32:26

When I was your age, we had a 135 and a 165.

0:32:260:32:29

They're about 60 years old, Sam.

0:32:290:32:32

Taking a well-earned break from the judging, Bridget, James and son Sam

0:32:320:32:37

have headed straight for the tractor display.

0:32:370:32:40

OK, so which one's this one, Sam?

0:32:430:32:45

That's a new one.

0:32:450:32:47

And right over there, there's a really, really old one.

0:32:470:32:50

Look at that.

0:32:500:32:51

-How old's that, Jerry?

-It's a 1908

0:32:510:32:54

and that's one of the first tractors after the horse.

0:32:540:32:57

We're here at the show today to show people

0:32:570:32:59

how farming was done back in the day.

0:32:590:33:03

Look, you used to sit on there.

0:33:030:33:05

-Sit down there.

-Yeah.

0:33:050:33:07

And look at that. You needed big muscles for that.

0:33:070:33:10

It's important that children and adults, to a certain extent,

0:33:100:33:13

understand where their food comes from and how it gets produced.

0:33:130:33:17

That's your old combine harvester.

0:33:200:33:22

-That's a combine, Mummy.

-Yeah, that's right.

0:33:230:33:26

Machines like these would go on to revolutionise the farming industry.

0:33:280:33:33

87-year-old tractor enthusiast Tony remembers only too well

0:33:330:33:37

how different farming used to be.

0:33:370:33:40

Times have changed.

0:33:400:33:42

We used to do everything with horses in those days.

0:33:420:33:45

We used to get by.

0:33:450:33:48

It was a slower pace of life, but we got the job done.

0:33:480:33:53

In 1939, I was ten years old.

0:33:540:33:59

My grandfather was on his deathbed

0:33:590:34:02

and he said to me, he said, "Tony, in your time,

0:34:020:34:07

"you're going to see some marvellous things."

0:34:070:34:10

He said, "In my time, I've seen some marvellous things,

0:34:100:34:13

"but nothing like you're going to see in your time".

0:34:130:34:16

And it's happened.

0:34:160:34:18

And I say to my grandchildren, "In your lifetime,

0:34:180:34:21

"you're going to see marvellous things, the same as I have."

0:34:210:34:25

What do you think, Sammy, is it like our tractor?

0:34:250:34:27

No? Is it different?

0:34:270:34:30

Well, in little Sam's eyes, these modern-day tractors

0:34:300:34:33

are certainly marvellous.

0:34:330:34:35

So much so, he tries to strike a deal to take one home.

0:34:350:34:38

-Sam...

-Swap you for all of our cows and we'll take the tractor.

0:34:380:34:42

Do you want the keys now?

0:34:420:34:44

-Yeah.

-Yeah? There you go.

-OK, then.

0:34:440:34:46

That's the best deal we've had, actually! Ha-ha!

0:34:460:34:49

-That was a good deal, wasn't it, Sam?

-Yeah, taking the cows.

0:34:490:34:53

Let's go and see the rabbits now.

0:34:530:34:55

-I hope he hasn't locked the case.

-No, I don't think he will.

0:34:550:34:57

Break's over and judging is back in full swing.

0:34:570:35:00

In the Highland show ring,

0:35:010:35:03

it's the final showdown for husband and wife Robert and Sandy.

0:35:030:35:07

They're going head-to-head with their prize-winning cows,

0:35:080:35:11

Gem and sister Cara, for the prestigious Best Of Breed title.

0:35:110:35:15

And the pressure is on.

0:35:190:35:22

We would love to achieve Champion Highland Animal.

0:35:240:35:30

If we come away with that, we'll have a drink on it in the evening.

0:35:310:35:35

SHE GIGGLES

0:35:350:35:37

A champion title is one of the most sought-after prizes

0:35:370:35:40

at a show like this.

0:35:400:35:42

You need an animal with just a little bit of attitude,

0:35:440:35:47

because they show themselves off better

0:35:470:35:49

when they're out with the public.

0:35:490:35:50

The first Highland to get a pat on the rear will be the champion.

0:35:530:35:58

Stand up, come on.

0:35:580:36:00

Stand up. Stand up.

0:36:030:36:05

And Sandy's done it,

0:36:050:36:07

beating her husband to first place with her blue-eyed girl Gem.

0:36:070:36:11

-TANNOY:

-There we are, the ladies win again.

0:36:110:36:14

And Robert comes second.

0:36:160:36:18

Congratulations. All is well in the Tedbury household this evening.

0:36:180:36:23

Thank you very much to the...

0:36:230:36:24

-We didn't expect it, but we hoped for it.

-Yeah.

0:36:240:36:27

We go out to win.

0:36:280:36:29

I've said it before, we're competitive, we come here to win.

0:36:290:36:33

-If somebody else beats us, that's showing.

-Fine. Yeah.

0:36:330:36:36

And the first was first and the second second, how about that?

0:36:430:36:47

No, no, the wife was first and the old man was second.

0:36:470:36:50

Your wife was first, yes. What a wise man you are, Mr Tedbury.

0:36:500:36:54

All the exhibitors that I've seen before me today

0:36:560:36:59

have been a real credit to our industry.

0:36:590:37:01

Thank you very much for giving them your support.

0:37:010:37:05

-Give me a kiss.

-SHE LAUGHS

0:37:050:37:07

As a married man,

0:37:130:37:15

it makes me even more happy that I came second because

0:37:150:37:19

it saves all the, "How did you come to beat me?"

0:37:190:37:24

You won it, my dear, so you're first, I'm second. I know my place.

0:37:240:37:28

Saved a divorce as well, letting the wife win, that worked very well!

0:37:280:37:33

And the... Whoops! I've got to go.

0:37:330:37:35

SHE LAUGHS

0:37:350:37:37

The day's competitions are almost over

0:37:430:37:46

and Bridget has gone on to win a first-place rosette

0:37:460:37:50

with her youngest show cow - Georgina.

0:37:500:37:52

-Well done.

-Thank you very much.

0:37:520:37:54

Great result, very happy with that.

0:37:540:37:57

Makes the job worthwhile.

0:37:570:37:58

And she made sure she shared the glory with the family.

0:37:580:38:02

It's the next generation,

0:38:030:38:05

working out what a rosette is and what to do with it.

0:38:050:38:09

I'm a proud mum and a proud grandmother.

0:38:110:38:13

SHE LAUGHS

0:38:130:38:14

To celebrate her mum's win, daughter Scarlet also gets in on the act.

0:38:150:38:20

-Want the rope?

-Scarlet, here you go.

0:38:200:38:23

Pull it, Scarlet. There we go.

0:38:230:38:25

Look, here we go, Scarlet's very first cow.

0:38:250:38:28

Come on.

0:38:280:38:29

The competitions are now almost over,

0:38:340:38:38

but there's just enough time for Gladiator

0:38:380:38:40

to make his debut appearance at the final judging.

0:38:400:38:44

It's his first show, he's never been off the farm before,

0:38:440:38:46

he's never seen any of this.

0:38:460:38:49

He will be taken into the ring by Bridget's helper, Andrew.

0:38:490:38:53

I'll be watching nervously from the sides.

0:38:530:38:55

It's actually more nerve-racking

0:38:550:38:56

watching your animals being shown than it is on the halter of them.

0:38:560:39:00

So far, so good.

0:39:060:39:08

At least they've managed to get Gladiator into the ring.

0:39:080:39:12

-How old is he?

-April.

0:39:120:39:15

Gladiator's got in the ring first, hasn't he?

0:39:150:39:18

But the nerves are starting to kick in.

0:39:180:39:21

MOOING

0:39:210:39:23

Bridget can only hope that her young bull will hold his own

0:39:240:39:27

against the other experienced competitor.

0:39:270:39:30

And Bridget's Gladiator takes first prize.

0:39:460:39:50

Well done.

0:39:550:39:56

Well done.

0:39:560:39:57

That's his first time in a show ring.

0:39:590:40:01

He behaved pretty well, considering.

0:40:010:40:03

Just looked a little bit nervous, a little bit apprehensive,

0:40:030:40:06

but that will really settle him down and put him on a good path.

0:40:060:40:10

Good one.

0:40:110:40:13

It must be my caring, loving touch with him... He's alright!

0:40:130:40:17

The Edenbridge And Oxted Show is almost over for another year

0:40:240:40:29

and, with judging finished, the families can finally relax.

0:40:290:40:33

Our farmers have prepared for this day all year.

0:40:360:40:40

With some of their hopes and dreams realised,

0:40:420:40:45

they are all walking away winners.

0:40:450:40:48

Big smiles when you get a first prize, isn't it?

0:40:480:40:51

Dancing, yeah. We'll be celebrating tonight, Scarlet.

0:40:510:40:55

I'm a very happy girl at the moment.

0:40:550:40:57

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

0:40:570:41:02

I'm so chuffed!

0:41:020:41:03

For Bridget, the prizes won today

0:41:070:41:10

will help secure the legacy of her fifth-generation farm.

0:41:100:41:14

Something she hopes to hand on to her children, Sam and Scarlet.

0:41:150:41:21

I've really enjoyed today, I always do.

0:41:210:41:24

This is what I'm absolutely passionate about.

0:41:240:41:26

The kids are having a whale of a time

0:41:260:41:28

and James has even enjoyed himself today.

0:41:280:41:31

-That one.

-Dwarf lop, Samuel.

0:41:310:41:34

A nice day out, isn't it?

0:41:340:41:36

-Yes, it's a nice family day out.

-It's lovely.

0:41:360:41:38

And, for overjoyed Sandy and Robert,

0:41:380:41:40

winning will help sell their much-loved homebred cattle

0:41:400:41:44

and provide a boost to their farm.

0:41:440:41:47

We've got to be proud about it,

0:41:470:41:50

take them right to the top of their class.

0:41:500:41:52

-That today is a very proud moment.

-Yeah.

0:41:520:41:56

The best moment for us today was Scarlet leading the cow

0:41:560:41:58

for the first time.

0:41:580:41:59

Look, here we go, Scarlet's very first cow.

0:41:590:42:02

Come on.

0:42:020:42:04

It's a real proud parent moment.

0:42:040:42:06

It comes naturally to her

0:42:060:42:08

and it won't be many years before she's really going to want

0:42:080:42:11

a calf in that show ring herself.

0:42:110:42:13

Wow, Scarlet, would you like a cow for your birthday?

0:42:130:42:16

Yes, please!

0:42:160:42:19

I feel 20 feet tall.

0:42:190:42:21

And hungry.

0:42:210:42:23

I can eat now.

0:42:230:42:25

Tonight will be a little bit of a party night.

0:42:250:42:28

-Time for a pint.

-Definitely time for more than one pint.

0:42:280:42:32

THEY LAUGH

0:42:320:42:33

SHE GIGGLES

0:42:350:42:36

That's a first - on camera!

0:42:360:42:38

MOOING

0:42:380:42:39

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