Royal Show goodbye for society president set to step down
IT WAS a wet and windy goodbye to Ray Watts, as the Royal Guernsey Agricultural & Horticultural Society president attended his last annual show this week before stepping down.
The retired farmer has been at the helm of the society for a decade after being asked to stay in the position following an initial five-year stint.
However, Mr Watts said that it was time for him to move on and for ‘fresh blood and fresh thinking’ to take his place.
‘It’s good to see a few young people coming forwards and getting involved in the industry – I don’t think I will have left any legacy, I just have been keeping the society on the straight and narrow,’ he said.
‘It’s been full of ups and downs like any society but on the whole very enjoyable. There’s a very good team around us here, the committee are very supportive and that makes life that much easier.’
Mr Watts started milking cows at the age of eight on his family farm in Somerset, but after meeting a Guernsey girl, he moved his life to the island and bought a farm.
Now, at the age of 79, Mr Watts is encouraged to see the standard of cattle improving across the island despite the challenges facing the farming industry.
‘It’s nice to see that we are going forward but unfortunately the number of farmers are diminishing due to the age range and the demands of working seven days a week. Some farmers are putting in robots to milk their cows, which is proving very successful, but there is a large cost of that involved so they’ve got to decide whether it is worth going down that road or doing alternatives.
‘I’d like to think the future of the breed is positive, but we are relying on others to get stuck in.’
As president of the society, Mr Watts has overseen committees fostering the improvement of the breed and helping to promote the dairy industry.
Guernsey has one of the highest welfare standards in the world and cattle are free from a lot of the major diseases – something Mr Watts hopes could be capitalised on in the future.
‘I think people come here and are quite impressed with the standard of cattle we have – the Guernsey cows produce a fantastic product with the milk and cheese, and it is keeping that at the forefront of the local population because without the public’s support, there would not be a dairy industry.
‘I suppose my greatest memory is to see the standard of cattle improving and that will continue whether I am there or not.
'As long as we keep going forward and we get the necessary support we do from government and again promote the breed – that’s what we are lacking at the moment.’
Mr Watts will step down from his role in early 2025 and is set to focus on other ventures outside of farming.
