NSA award winner to be celebrated at formal presentation

The Nationwide Sheep Affiliation (NSA) is ready current the George Hedley Memorial Award to Scottish sheep farmer Ian Duncan Miller at a particular formal presentation on the Annual Regional Member’s Assembly (ARMM) of the NSA Scottish Area on January 19, 2023.

The occasion will happen at Glensaugh Analysis Farm, Fettercairn, Laurencekirk.

The NSA stated Miller will obtain the award “in recognition of his excellent contribution to the UK sheep trade”.

NSA chief govt, Phil Stocker, stated: “I’m delighted that this 12 months’s award has gone to Ian.

“There was some actually stiff competitors from plenty of different nominees, all of which might have made worthy winners, however there was a unanimous settlement that this 12 months’s award ought to go to Ian for what’s a lifetime’s efficient work to additional Britain’s sheep trade and that is simply what the award is there to recgonise.

Interim chair of the NSA Scottish Area, Peter Myles, added: “I’m delighted.

“Ian has put his redoubtable drive, imaginative and prescient and enthusiasm into not solely the development of his personal flock but in addition our nationwide flock as an entire, utilising his skills and the numerous aspects of his work over time.

“Ian is a really worthy winner of this prestigious award.”

Ian Duncan Miller

The NSA stated that Miller is an instance of “some of the exemplary leaders throughout the UK sheep trade at this time”.

“By his assist and early adoption of quite a few programmes together with efficiency recording in hill sheep, early co-operative breeding schemes and thru his position as a extremely valued adviser to researchers creating breeding indexes for UK hill sheep, he has been instrumental within the multifaceted development of the sector,” the affiliation stated.

Miller has additionally held positions on trade boards and committees. He has been the director of Highland Glen Producers Ltd. since 1979.

Different roles he has held embody:

• Director at Farm Assured Scotch Livestock (1989-1997);
• Director at Scottish High quality Beef and Lamb Affiliation (1997-2000);
• Director at High quality Meat Scotland (2000-2002);
• Chair of the UK Fallen Inventory CIC (2004-2012);
• Chair of the Moredun basis (2012-2020).

Miller was made a Fellow of the Royal Agriculture Socities and a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2010.

Commenting on successful the award, Miller stated: “It was an enormous shock in addition to an infinite honour to be awarded the George Hedley Memorial Award.

“To consider all the people who’ve been right here earlier than me is sort of mind-blowing. 

“I’ve been very lucky to have had plenty of attention-grabbing ‘jobs’ by way of my profession, and all through that point I’ve at all times been in my ‘day-job’, a farmer, and sheep are a giant a part of what I do.

“So I suppose I’ve seen issues by way of that prism, and if in consequence I’ve helped our unbelievable trade alongside the best way, that has been an immeasurable bonus. 

“NSA does a terrific job in supporting and selling our sector within the corridors of affect, so I’m very supportive, and to be recognised on this means may be very transferring certainly.”

George Hedley Memorial Award

First introduced greater than 60 years in the past, the NSA George Hedley award acknowledges excellent particular person contributions to the UK sheep sector.

It’s given to honour the reminiscence of George Hedley, a revered farmer who was concerned with the NSA for a few years. Whereas within the place of NSA chairperson, Hedley was tragically killed in a automobile accident in January of 1960.

The award is often seen as a lifetime achievement honour to a extremely esteemed individual inside UK sheep farming who has made a sustained or momentous contribution.

The listing contains, however will not be restricted to, influencers concerned in sheep-focused analysis/growth; provision of out-of-the unusual providers; trade promotion/profile elevating; charity work; coaching/training; or facilitation of finest apply.

Chief govt of the NSA, Phil Stocker, stated: “The George Hedley award is a very prestigious recognition of excellent contribution to the sheep trade within the UK.

“The lengthy and really worthy listing of people who’ve been recipients of this award prior to now is testimony to the dedication of individuals inside our sector.”