Farmer receives major award for countryside work

Farmer receives major award for countryside work

18 May 2016

SAINTFIELD farmer Crosby Cleland has been presented with a prestigious award.

At last week’s Balmoral Show he received the Prince’s Trust Countryside Fund Contribution to Rural Communities Award which champions forward-thinking individuals whose technical ability or business aptitude promises to make a positive impact on their sector.

A local producer for Marks & Spencer, Crosby has been rewarded for his talent as a producer at a M&S “farming for the future” award presentation which took place at the annual show. 

Crosby produces lamb on his 76 hectare farm with his rearing enterprise based on a flock of 750 ewes, the majority of which are pure or cross-bred Lleyns. A key focus for the Saintfield man is to maximise the use of his pasture; carefully managing clover and grass growth to ensure the best quality and supply of forage for his sheep to feed on.

Despite the significant demands of running his business, Crosby has played a highly active role in the local area, helping educate those from outside the agricultural community about sheep farming.

To try and provide local people with an insight into the reality of life on a working farm and help educate about food production, Crosby regularly opens up his farm to school children from the local area and show them around his business.

He and the farm have also participated in the open farm weekend project and Crosby takes a very proactive role in explaining the way he farms to members of the public.

 “As well as engaging with the non-agricultural community, I am heavily involved in supporting other sheep farmers in the local area and across Northern Ireland,” Crosby explained. “I have such a passion and enthusiasm for what I do and believe that by sharing knowledge, we can improve the sheep industry for future generations.

“In order to demonstrate how to make the best use of grass when producing sheep, I’ve welcomed numerous visits from local sheep producers on to my farm to discuss and look at our production methods. I’ve also presented papers to farmers in the rest of the UK and southern Ireland on my methods of sheep farming.”

Twenty five years ago, Crosby was a founder member of the local sheep marketing group which he has helped to grow over the years to include 160 fellow sheep farmers. He is also currently chairman of the Ulster Farmers’ Union beef and lamb committee and the Agrisearch sheep advisory committee. 

In addition, Crosby is an active member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and serves on various committees for the National Sheep Association.