Sarah continues a great family tradition

From the Gazette & Herald, first published Thursday 27th Jul 2006.

A LIFETIME of sheep breeding is to be rewarded for Sarah Smith who is to be the chief steward for the sheep classes at Malton Show on Sunday.

Sarah's family, the Bulmers, have been exhibiting at the show for about a century, and this year's event comes hot on the heels of a successful Great Yorkshire Show, where they won top accolades.

Sarah's grandfather Alec had one of the first flocks of old English Leicesters before the family, who farm at Coultas Farm, Great Habton, moved to Suffolk.

"I've always helped my dad, Richard with the sheep since I was three," said Sarah, who became a leading young farmer in Ryedale, serving as chairman and secretary of the district's club.

Sarah was an assistant steward to her aunt, Kath, at 13 and became a steward in her own right three years later.

Her nephews, Alex, nine, and James 11, won honours for handling sheep at the Great Yorkshire and the family also won the male Suffolk championship, reserve female championship and the reserve overall at Harrogate. In her everyday life, Sarah has a different role working for North Yorkshire Social Services as a family support worker, which she manages to combine with caring for her sheep.

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