The dairy industry suffered a tremendous loss in 2016 when Louise Hartley lost her battle to a rare form of ovarian cancer. Louise, just 24, was a journalist at the Farmers Guardian, a keen member of Clitheroe Young Farmers, a passionate supporter of the Lancashire Holstein Young Breeders Club and a truly remarkable and inspiring driving force within the farming community.

In celebration of her life the Louise Hartley Memorial Fund was set up to give a youngster with an interest in agriculture the chance to further their career.  Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) is honoured to launch the Louise Hartley Award, kindly sponsored by Alta Genetics in conjunction with the Louise Hartley Memorial Fund. Courtesy of Alta, the Award winner will receive a place on either a tour of America or Europe or the opportunity to attend a Dairy Manager School in the UK to develop their skills and learning.

To qualify for the new Award, each affiliated HYB Club is asked to nominate one young breeder (aged between 18 and 22 years of age on the 1^st January 2017) to be considered for entry. The person selected to represent the Club should be a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed, Holstein Young Breeders and their own Breeders’ Club.  At the HYB Coordinators Meeting, which will take place at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show in October, Coordinators will be asked to vote for the member they think should win (they will not be able to vote for a member from their own Club). The winner will be given the choice of the following three options, generously funded by Alta:

•        Alta Advantage Showcase Tour, America, which takes place in June
•        Alta Advantage Tour, Europe, which takes place in September
•       Dairy Manager School, UK, which takes place in both May & October

The Louise Hartley Memorial Fund, kindly donated by the Hartley family, will also cover the transport costs for the winner.

Miriam Bagley, Events & National HYB Coordinator for Holstein UK, commented, “HYB is privileged to be able to launch this award in celebration and admiration of Louise. She was a wonderful personality, full of energy and boundless creativity and a treasured HYB member. Louise excelled at stock judging and showing and was inspired by her dairy farming family. The whole industry dearly misses her. This new Award is our way of celebrating her life and it is with great pride that we officially open the nomination process. Nominations should be made via regional Club Coordinators and must also be endorsed by the Chairman or Secretary of the Senior Club.”