Thirty years in the hot seat, organising one of the most important ram sales in Europe, hasn’t dimmed Jane Smith’s enthusiasm. She thoroughly enjoys her demanding role as Executive Director of the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales.
She came to farming, fresh from years on the international motor racing circuit with her late husband, Robin Smith. That, and a three year stint running Monmouthshire Show meant she was well prepared and successfully negotiated a series of tough interviews before being appointed to run the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales.
The sight that first year of 22 marquees on the Royal Welsh Showground, housing nearly 10,000 sheep from around 35 breeds, was an indication of the scale of the challenge! And then there were the sheep breeders, for many of whom it was the most important day of the year.
Detail is crucial and it was a steep learning curve, getting a feel of which breeds could be penned together. It’s important that there is a flow to the layout and the proceedings.
Jane Smith recalls: “I had been a show secretary with Monmouth Show for three years and prior to that motor racing meant I was traveling around the world.
“I thought sheep would be easier, but I didn’t understand the importance of what breeds go together and the importance of the draw and whether the ballot system is right. I try my utmost to make sure it’s fair and that people get a fair turn over time and aren’t continually at the beginning or end of the sale.
“But people are amazing, one lady was furious about her placing, but she hadn’t told me she had married and moved. So I had no idea that she wasn’t a new vendor. I understand the importance of it all and that people get excited.
“However If someone is rude, I’ll say that I’m happy to talk when they calm down. We’ll sort it. People respect you and usually ring back in a better frame of mind.”
The demands of the job, dealing with sheep and people, haven’t changed. And Jane quickly realised the organisation required meant she needs to stay at the showground for a full week before the event. Computerisation brings its own issues, but has made the administration much easier, with a database and ease of input, while internet access has become a necessity.
The general challenges though are very different today from those she faced back in 1993. The legal and health and safety requirements are enormous, with licensing meaning a team has to check each and every licence as the sheep enter and leave.
Legislation and rules have hugely increased staff numbers and costs. The biggest change came when the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society decided, post Foot & Mouth Disease, that there could be no more sales on grass. The sheep had to move into permanent buildings, ruling out any previous flexibility in terms of penning.
And the nature of challenge means these tests have ranged from the last minute postponement of the sale when the date conflicted with the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, to a diesel strike and the impact of a spell of exceptionally hot weather. Jane is grateful that she has always enjoyed the full support of the NSA Wales & Border Committee when she has had to make instant decisions.
She emphasises: “The committee has always been extremely supportive and we’ve always got out of any scrapes. I really appreciate that and would never have stayed so long if they hadn’t been such great people to work with.”
It’s been a long, challenging, and enormously enjoyable stint and a role that Jane continues to relish. The most memorable occasion being the visit of HRH the Princess Royal to the 40th anniversary sale in 2018 (pictured above). It coincided with Jane having served 25 years and Princess Anne presented her with a framed photograph of her favourite horse, Zeb.
It was the highlight, so far, of an astonishing career.
NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales dates: Early Sale, 7th August 2023; Main Sale, 18th September 2023
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