Ambitious young sheep farmers to embark on New Zealand study trips with the support of NSA and the Staple

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is pleased to announce that young sheep farmers Lucy Griffiths from Presteigne, Powys, and Perry Parkinson from Dumfries have been selected as the winners of the 2023/24 NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award for the Next Generation.

The award comes in the form of two generous £2,750 travel bursaries to support the chosen enthusiastic young shepherds in a study trip to explore the application of science in sheep production. The bursaries are made possible by funding from NSA alongside the Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England (the Staple).

After being shortlisted from many high calibre applications for the award, Lucy and Perry both impressed a panel of judges including NSA and industry representatives to finally be selected as recipients of the bursaries this year. The panel was led by Stephen Fell, Staple representative and a sheep breeder from North Yorkshire. He was joined by Dr Philip Skuce from Moredun, Edward Adamson from NSA Northern Ireland Region and Kate Hovers, vet and NSA Cymru/Wales Region Chair.

Mr Fell says: “The Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England is once again delighted to be sponsoring the NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award. This is a great opportunity for two people from our sheep industry to travel and broaden their minds in other countries. The successful recipients this year, Perry and Lucy, both interviewed very well and their chosen topics, will certainly produce reports of real topical interest.”

Recipients Lucy and Perry are now in the initial stages of planning their study trips, with both intending to travel to New Zealand using the funds from the awards.

Lucy, who is a final year agriculture student at Harper Adams University and farms alongside her family on their mixed farm in mid-Wales, plans to investigate different options for outwintering of stock on her trip. This is a topic relevant to her family’s system that currently outwinters breeding ewes and lambs on forage crops as part of the crop rotation. On receiving the award, Lucy says: “It is a privilege to be chosen as a recipient and to represent young UK sheep farmers. I am excited to travel hopefully to both New Zealand and Australia to see firsthand their sheep systems, with a focus on outwintering techniques. I am sure it will give me extra motivation as I complete my final year at Harper Adams University.”  

Perry, who is head shepherd at SRUC’s Barony College Campus, is looking to study anthelmintic resistance in sheep during his trip. This will further his interest for the topic that has seen him begin creation of an egg count map of the college farm, allowing assessment of high and low risk fields and helping decisions on planting of grasses and other crops in order to reduce the risk.

Like Lucy, Perry was delighted to be chosen as one of the recipients of the bursary. He says: “The NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award is a great opportunity for any young sheep farmer to travel and view farming in other parts of the world, and having the backing of NSA and the Staple is fantastic. I’m excited to plan and undertake my trip, hopefully bringing back some interesting findings to the UK, not only utilise myself, but to share with others too.”

The awards are given in memory of Samuel Wharry of Carnlough, County Antrim, who was NSA Chairman when he died suddenly in May 2017, aged just 56. As an advocate of science and technology, particularly relating to genetics, these bursaries are given in Samuel’s memory to ensure his enthusiasm, curiosity and practical nature live on.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “The NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award offers young sheep farmers support and inspiration to travel and discover the important roles that science and technology now play in the improvement of the worldwide sheep flock.

“After the world of travel was closed off for so long due to the covid pandemic, it is especially pleasing to be able to award the bursaries to Lucy and Perry this year. All at NSA and the Staple are excited to be part of their journeys and wish them the very best with their studies.”