Janice Houghton-Wallace

I ran a poultry show at an agricultural show and wanted to add turkeys so went to buy four Bourbon Red poults and came home with eight. When I left the BBC in 1999 the office bought me a pair of Blue turkeys. That winter I showed two Bourbon Red and the two Blues at the Poultry Club of Great Britain (PCGB) National Show. They were the only turkeys entered so I was determined to do something to promote the breed. I co-founded Turkey Club UK in 2000 and was Secretary for 16 years. The enthusiasm was tremendous and at our first show we had 52 entries. In 2001 I imported 60 day-old poults from Canada to broaden the bloodlines in the UK . It had taken me two years and loads of hurdles to jump over with the Ministry but it was achieved. I have had turkeys on television, the radio, in magazines and newspapers as well as displays at different shows. I've even had turkeys on display in Ely Cathedral for the harvest festival and it was so funny watching the choirboys trying to stifle giggles as the stags gobbled each time the Dean started a new sentence in his sermon. 

 

I have written about turkeys in numerous magazines both in the UK and abroad and in 2007 I wrote a book about them titled 'Not Just For Christmas'. I achieved my Turkey Judging certificate from the PCGB many years ago and it will be such a pleasure to be judging turkeys in Australia. I am currently in my last year as President of Turkey Club UK. 

 

 I have also kept and bred Guinea Fowl and written about them but this would be my first time at judging them!