Thornton-le-Dale Show: Meet the sheep secretary who is allergic to sheep dip but still keeps the show on the road

“My dad was in the wool trade, buying and selling wool for materials,” says Diane. “But I’d never intended keeping sheep, nor becoming sheep secretary for the show. At 15-16 years old I’d had my heart set on being a livestock auctioneer.

The Stenton family is well respected in the showing world. Ex-husband James earned a sturdy reputation for his Bluefaced Leicesters that Hannah is carrying on successfully today. Hannah had breed champion at last year’s Great Yorkshire Show.

“All of our three - Hannah, Sammy (Samantha) and Harry – who are now 32, 30, 28 last Saturday respectively lived for the shows.

“I’ve been involved as sheep secretary here since 2007 and both Sammy and Hannah help me. Sammy helps with the clerical side and will also help with the sheep but is not as keen with the sheep as Hannah, who is mega keen and has her own flock.

“Sammy has done a brilliant job of setting up our judging sheets which have made life so much easier for the person who is doing it.

Diane says that this year’s record number of sheep entries is going to prove particularly testing and that the work behind the scenes is substantial.

“We have 381 entries, both MV accredited and non-MV, and need over 200 pens. We had 190 pens last year. Exhibitors are going to have to be very patient. We will all be doing our very best to make sure everyone is in and has a good day.

“It’s a lot of hard work for everyone involved. It’s the same at all shows. People often don’t see what goes on behind the scenes.

“As sheep secretary you’re sitting at that computer, putting in entries and sending people an envelope with their wristbands and car park tickets. I also send out a copy of what they send me in their entry form for their catalogue entries so they can hopefully get them through and confirm it is right. Show secretaries are only human and do occasionally make a mistake. It is important everyone checks.

Diane also pays tribute to all of those who turn up before show day to set everything up correctly.

“Just getting the pens up on the Monday before the show is a military operation. I have such a good team of loyal, hard-working people from the village and people who have been involved in the show for years. Some are now in their 80s, but they still turn up and contribute.

“Malton livestock market let us have their hurdles and we are really grateful to Cockerill Haulage from Old Malton who bring them on two wagons, especially as it is such a busy time for them with straw.

“Sourcing all of the judges is an endless task, as we need judges for each pedigree section and the commercials. This year we have Gordon Pate as our Interbreed judge from Gorebridge near Edinburgh. He is our son Harry’s best friend. They grew up at shows together. Harry now lives in Australia, but he’s back for the show this year.

Diane says she has seen a substantial growth in Leicester Longwool entries this year, perhaps as the breed celebrates 130 years of its breed society formation in East Yorkshire.

“It’s quite a rise this year. I’ve 13 gimmer shearling entries, 11 gimmer lambs and 8 groups. We do well with Texels because we do MV and non MV classes and both are looking good.

Ryeland breeder Stephen Hipps is coming to judge the young handlers classes this year after having judged the Any Other Native Breed classes last year.

Diane’s love affair with North Yorkshire and subsequently Thornton le Dale started when she used to visit Hogarth Hill Farm with her family at Boggle Hole when she was 12 years old.

“I started working there for David & Angela Pattinson in their restaurant that was part of the farm. I’d come up every school holiday from being 13 and I’d help with their B&B accommodation and help David on the farm. After leaving school at 18 I worked at Tom & John Cummins’ dairy farm at Hawsker for six months, and then another six months with Ken Clark on his pig farm at Burniston, all with a view to working towards my aim to be an auctioneer through studies at Askham Bryan College.

“We moved to Thornton-le-Dale in 1999 and it was the best move we ever made. We had decided we needed somewhere with some kind of diversification. We took on Easthill that had three pine lodges, a cottage and three apartments.

“While I am sheep secretary at the show I have no real enthusiasm to work alongside sheep today due to an immune disorder. The medication I take seems to cause me to have an allergic reaction to the smell of purl dip they use in the preparation of sheep for showing. I have other interests today.

Diane enjoys nothing more than going out shooting with her dogs, which she has done since the age of eleven.

“I used to accompany Ces Scruton shooting and I still go shooting today with Ian Scruton. I also work for Wilfred Scruton agricultural engineers at Foxholes.

Diane also enjoys her gamekeeping and doing her bit for Thornton-le-Dale Show.

“Thornton-le-Dale Show is a very special show. We have fantastic people like Martin Blythe, Gena Douglas, Steve Naylor and many more. We hope to see you there!