Countryside Services Staff Shine at Local Farming Shows

Countryside Services is proud to announce the recent achievements of three of our dedicated team members, Claire Canavan, Arlene Devlin and Andrew Kerr at local farming shows. Their participation and success in these events are a testament to their deep-rooted agricultural backgrounds and dedication to the farming community.

Claire Canavan, our Project Officer for the Farm Business Improvement Scheme and Training Division within Countryside Services, showcased her Simmental-Blue Cross Heifer at the renowned Clogher Valley Show. Claire’s involvement in such events highlights her extensive hands-on experience and unwavering commitment to the agricultural sector. Claire also farms at her home in Dungannon, where she keeps suckler cows and pigs.

Reflecting on her experience, Claire said, “Being part of farming shows helps me keep up with what’s happening in the farming world and something that I really enjoy being involved in. It makes me better at understanding and helping our customers. Showing my own livestock gives me a unique perspective that I use in my job every day.”

Arlene Devlin, our Customer Sales Advisor, has also achieved remarkable success in recent shows. At the Ballymena Show, Arlene won male champion with her pygmy goat, Brookmount Brodie. Building on this success, she secured 2nd place in the goat female (1-2 years) category with Auld Cross Lola and male (2-5 years) category with Brodie at the Clogher Valley Show. Arlene runs her goat farm in Ardboe, County Tyrone, where she breeds top-quality pygmy goats, with all her females registered with the Northern Ireland Pygmy Goat Club (NIPGC).

Arlene shared her thoughts on her successes, stating, “Taking part in these shows has really helped me learn more about farming. It’s a great way to meet other farmers, understand their needs, and bring that knowledge back to Countryside Services. Winning these awards is a great honour and motivates me to keep getting better.”

Dr Andrew Kerr who manages the Rural Services department within Countryside Services has also exhibited his prize winning poultry at various local and national poultry shows across the UK & Ireland. Andrew recently picked up the Champion Waterfowl award at the Tyrone Farming Society annual show in Omagh on 6th July, with his White Indian Runner Drake.

Andrew also operates a highly successful egg and poultry business from his base in Fivemiletown supplying a wide selection of pure breeds as hatching eggs and ‘point of lay’ poultry.

Commenting on his interest in poultry and his support for local agricultural shows, Andrew remarked that “it’s my passion to help sustain the many colourful rare breeds of poultry and waterfowl that exist and to showcase these for others to observe and enjoy, also when it comes to delivery of the various grant schemes of behalf of DAERA I believe it gives confidence to farmers when they see those that are responsible for scheme delivery are embedded within the farming community themselves.”

These accomplishments not only showcase the talents and dedication of our staff but also reflect the core values of Countryside Services. Our team’s active involvement in the agricultural community enables us to provide exceptional service and support to our clients, ensuring they receive the most relevant and practical advice.

For more information about our services and team, please call us on 028 8778 9770 or email info@countrysideservices.com.