It is surely appropriate that farmer-owned business, Mole Valley Farmers has sponsored a cow, named Libbie, who will be appearing at county shows both throughout the South West and further afield over the next few months.

Libbie - whose registered pedigree name is Trewey Plum Crazy - is a maiden Guernsey heifer, born in Cornwall on 28 January 2013. She lives on the farm of Brian and Sheila Adams in Langport, Somerset and Mole Valley Farmers has sponsored her by providing all her feed, since she was born.

Libbie is a lady with a very busy social calendar as she has already appeared at The Devon County Show (where she was placed second) and Royal Bath & West (where she secured third), and The Royal Cornwall Show, (getting fifth). Her busy schedule for summer 2015 also includes a trip to The Three Counties Show, Malvern on 12 and 13 June and a further excursion to The Livestock Event in Birmingham on 8 and 9 July and The Okehampton Show on 13 August.

Libbie belongs to The Addington Trust (www.addingtonfund.org.uk). This is an agricultural charity which works to provide homes for farming families in England and Wales, who have had to leave the industry, through no fault of their own. In times of emergency and where hardship prevails, The Addington Trust can sometimes assist farmers with grants towards certain business costs.

Ian Bell, Chief Executive explained; “Mole Valley Farmers has supported The Addington Fund since the dreadful time of Foot and Mouth in 2001, and they are always there to help us when times are tough for farming families.

"Libbie is invaluable in raising the profile of our charity. She attracts county show visitors who might never have come into close contact with a cow before, and due to her calm nature, they can get up close and personal and stroke her. She also helps us talk to the public and highlight the pressures on dairy farmers at the moment.”

Ian continued:

“Thank you to Brian and Sheila Adams for their commitment and care of Libbie, and for all the encouragement we receive from the Guernsey Cattle Society. The two previous raffles we have held for our Guernsey heifers proved very successful and we are now doing the same with Libbie, although there is the option to win £1,000 cash instead. All funds raised will help The Addington Trust continue to support farming families in difficulties”.

Tickets can be purchased via www.addingtonfund.org.uk/support-us/win-a-guernsey-heifer

Julie Edwards, Head of Agricultural Marketing and Corporate Communications said; “Libbie is lovely and a very good ambassador for both Mole Valley Famers and The Addington Trust. The past few years have been a difficult time for agriculture, and depressed prices on milk have meant that many dairy farmers have been forced out of business or are surviving on extremely tight margins. We are delighted that Libbie helps get this message out to the general public and that her gracious nature gives her such a fan base all round”.