G’Day to the UK Jack Harper’s August Blog

Yet again we wave goodbye to another season. Summer is behind us and the days are quickly shortening. Each day the weather becomes more and more autumnal. With my second season in the Northern Hemisphere wrapped up, so too is six months with Harrison & Hetherington.

 

Safe to say it has been another activity-filled and eventful month. The month began in the sunshine sampling the bar at the Dumfries Show; there’s not too much else to add to that other than many a pint were thoroughly enjoyed in great company. As the month progressed, Borderway and Lockerbie came alive once again for a series of pedigree sales. With the easing of blue-tongue virus restrictions as of later this month, the remaining special sales will return to regular proceedings. Both Middleton and Lazonby have also been a hive of activity, and the weather gods put on a stunning day on the Solway Coast for the Greenmoorside clearing sale.

Commercial prime and store stock numbers have gradually increased week on week. The cattle job has continued to see rises across all grades. As for the lamb market, it has seen a few price corrections but is in a position I would still consider a good trade in both the prime and store rings.

 

I think the real excitement of the month has indeed been fuelled by the buzz in the markets around an array of different pedigree sheep sales. Week in and week out there has been a special sale or the mammoth task of preparing for one. Lockerbie, being a site not so used to hosting such big events, has required countless hours of designing and building extra pens to ensure enough space could be made to fit all the sheep in on their particular day. Each breed drew its own buying constituent, and across the board, the feedback I received was positive from both buyers and sellers alike.

 

With extra sales added into the programme at this time of year, I was given the opportunity to take to the rostrum and sell some sheep on the pedigree days. My task consisted of pedigree Dorpers and Oxford Downs. I’d be lying if I said I was super impressed with my selling of the Dorpers on the Friday afternoon. Having not sold any stock for close to seven months, it certainly took some easing back in. At home, I would generally sell pedigree stock twice a year but always be in good practice selling prime stock at least twice a week. To have essentially seven months away from auctioneering to then step straight back into the pedigrees seemed a rather tough task for me personally.

 

Much like riding a bike though, it quickly came back to me. I was much more pleased with myself after the completion of my sale of the Oxfords on the Saturday morning. Originally, I was rather frustrated with myself, but once I had time to sit back and reflect, I felt much more relaxed and pleased with my stint at the rostrum. All of the vendors I had the pleasure of dealing with seemed very much satisfied, which was refreshing to hear. Having now had just a little taste of how it feels to be in the box of a sale ring, I am very excited to get back in and further develop my skills before my time draws to a close.

 

I have found it exciting to see the smaller, more seasonal selling centres in operation. I’ve headed to Lazonby a handful of times now since it reopened its doors for the store season and have also been well acquainted with Middleton. Middleton was treated with a busy day during this month with a store lamb sale following the weekly sheep collection and then a farm clearing sale held at the market to round out the afternoon. When the sale rings at these markets get the chance to be full, there is a real excitement in the air. 

 

Another opportunity to spend some time on the rostrum this month came at the Greenmoorside clearing sale in West Cumbria. Having been part of the team that lotted and catalogued the sale, I was asked if I would like to open the sale. We were indeed presented with a perfect day for a clearing sale, with the sun gleaming over the farm and a light sea breeze to keep things refreshing. Clearing sales are almost always met with heightened emotions, often closing a chapter on a farm’s existence or style of operation. It’s rewarding when it all comes together and is always a pleasure to see the vendors have a successful sale.

 

It is a little shocking to think, as I write this, that a full six months has been and gone. Time has flown on by but also seems like so long ago when I saw my first Swaledale and was overwhelmed with the number of vendors to get to know.

As I sit and reflect on the changes I’ve made and, with that, the differences I’ve seen within the industry over the last six months, I indeed have an even bigger appreciation for the work we do at home and the service we provide day in and day out to our valued clients. It was certainly a big decision for me to essentially uproot my life as I knew it and move here to the other side of the globe, but one that I think has indeed incited a huge amount of growth in both a professional but also in a personal sense.

 

I would definitely say I miss swinging a rusty draft gate with the bark of a disobedient kelpie keeping lambs running up the race and mobs of cattle that you wonder if there is an end to as you draft in a set of yards with a gate that never swings the way you need it.

 

With that being said, what I do enjoy is the new experiences - getting to see new sale methods, new stock, and meet new producers, all of whom have their own individual quirks and ways of going about business. Having now passed the halfway mark, I have reassured myself that my return to the Central West is inevitable but am also very much enjoying this experience for what it is. Every day is a new experience, and each day has brought with it valuable new lessons both professionally and personally.

 

As the months continue to fall away, I look forward to seeing how things change and develop as the weather cools down. For me, it will be very soon, and I will have the coat dusted off from the closet to save myself from freezing over.

To my friends and those of you who are still following from home, I hope spring pans out in a likeable fashion. Enjoy the days getting longer and the time of year where jumpers go missing almost daily.