President's Medal

The Holstein UK President’s Medal is awarded to the HYB member who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed and their Club.

Semex UK is a professional partner of HYB and has made a significant contribution to the advancement and success of Holstein Young Breeders. Not only do Semex offer a substantial monetary contribution as part of their sponsorship, they also pay for the three HYB President’s Medal finalists to attend the Semex International Dairy Conference and they fund a trip for the winner to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.

2023

Holstein UK crowned the champion of its prestigious 2023 Presidents Medal Award at the Semex Conference in Glasgow on Monday 15th January.

Alison Lawrie from Scotland Holstein Young Breeders Club has claimed the title and won an engraved medal and a trip to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, kindly funded by HYB’s principal sponsor, Semex, later this year. In addition, Alison was presented with the Sue Cope Memorial Trophy. Holstein UK would also like to congratulate the two runners up Tom Hull (Lancashire) and Will Horsley (Border & Lakeland).

Winner

Alison Lawrie - Scotland

Read Alison's essay

Runners Up

Tom Hull (Lancashire)

Read Tom's essay

Will Horsley (Border & Lakeland)

Read Will's essay

2022

Holstein UK were delighted to present the prestigious President’s Medal Award to Natasha Kirby at the International Semex Conference in Glasgow on the evening of Monday 16th January.

Natasha who is a member of the Lancashire Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) Club has been recognised for the outstanding contribution she has made to her Club, the wider HYB community and the Holstein breed. Her prize consists of an engraved medal and a trip to The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto this November, kindly funded by HYB Principal Sponsor Semex UK. In addition, Natasha was presented with the newly launched Sue Cope Memorial Trophy. Holstein UK also congratulate the two runners-up Alison Lawrie from the Scotland HYB Club and Pippa Tudor from the Shropshire HYB Club.

Finalist's Essays

Alison Lawrie

Natasha Kirby

Pippa Tudor

2021

Holstein UK are delighted to present the prestigious 2021 President’s Medal Award to a member of the Cornwall HYB Club for the second consecutive year. Cari Thomas has claimed the title for her outstanding contribution to the Holstein breed, HYB and her Club and she has won an engraved medal and a trip to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, kindly funded by HYB’s Principal Sponsor, Semex. Holstein UK also congratulate the two runners up John Mclean from the Northern Ireland Club and Rachel Williamson from the Border & Lakeland Club.

Winner

Cari Thomas (Cornwall)

Read Cari's essay

Runners Up

John Mclean (N. Ireland)

Read John's essay

Rachel Williamson (Border & Lakeland)

Read Rachel's essay

2020

On Friday 27th November 2020, the winner of the 2020 President's Medal was announced as Steven Harris from the Cornwall Holstein Young Breeders Club. Entrants were asked to write and submit an essay titled “In light of the changes facing the UK dairy industry, what steps should be taken at farm level to adapt to these changes and boldly go forward?"

Winner

2020 President's Medal Winner Steven Harris, Cornwall

(Steven photographed with Holstein UK Chairman Michael Smale)

Read Steven's essay

Runners-up

Heather Martin, Northern Ireland

(Heather photographed with Holstein NI Chairman Iain McLean)

Read Heather's essay

Rob Higgins, Shropshire

Read Rob's essay

2019

On Monday 13th January 2020, the winner of the 2019 President's Medal was announced as Andrew Neilson from the Scotland Holstein Young Breeders Club. Entrants were asked to write and submit an essay titled “What can all of us, as breeders who work in the UK dairy industry, do to reverse the trend of consumers choosing cows’ milk alternatives?”

Read Andrew's essay

Winner

Andrew Neilson being presented the with the President's Medal by Holstein UK President Bryan Thomas and Semex's Michael Dennison

Runners-up

Cari Thomas, Cornwall

Frances Griffiths, Yorkshire

2018

On Monday 14th January, 2019, the winner of the 2018 President’s Medal was announced as Jess Mills from the Derbyshire Holstein Young Breeders Club. Entrants were asked to write an essay titled Nine years after the first genomic bulls were used female genomic testing is on the rise. Discuss the role of this technology within modern dairy farming and how you could use this data within your own herd management”.

Winner - Jess Mills, Derbyshire