| 2018-02-26 |    |
T.I. Allison Memorial Award 2018 Winner Announced
Following the Annual Members Meeting for the NSA Northern Region, current Chairman Eddie Eastham was delighted to announce the 2018 winner of the T.I. Allison Memorial Award as Alan Alderson of Barras Farm, Kirkby Stephen.
The award is presented annually for outstanding contribution to the sheep industry in the North of England and could not have come at a more fitting time for Alan, after he recently stood down from the role of Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association Chairman after 18 years.
NSA Northern Region Chairman Eddie Eastham (right) presents the award to Alan Alderson
Alan was nominated via the association after almost two decades of service, a position he undertook alongside running his family farm and representing the sheep hill farming industry at every opportunity, something which has long been a passion for Alan.
Graham
Wilkinson, Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association member, says:
“Alan
has had an integral involvement in many discussion panels on various
topics and is so well regarded and highly thought of by hill sheep
farmers throughout the UK. He found time to be involved on the
advisory panel when setting up a hill farm at Newton
Rigg College and also took an advisory role in the setting up of the National
Scrapie Plan.
“He has put much time into promoting the Swaledale which included helping to set up the Swaledale M&S lamb scheme and was recently awarded the High Sheriff of Cumbria Community Award for his involvement with training the police to recognise sheep and sheep marks.”
Alongside the presentation of the T.I. Allison Memorial Award, NSA Northern Region’s Annual Members Meeting included a busy programme of presentations and updates to keep members abreast with NSA’s work and technical developments within the sheep sector.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, gave a brief overview of the Brexit situation and Livestock Identification Programme (LIP) followed by NSA Next Generation Ambassador Thomas Vickers who gave a talk on his experiences during the programme. The room was then entertained by Adam Day, Managing Director at the Farmer Network and freelance auctioneer. Adam gave an overview of the Farmer Network’s work before entertaining the room with stories from his auctioneering and rugby past.
