51AVÊÓƵ

For 13 years, the has shone a light on the best in British Farming. During this annual event, Britain's farming industry comes together to celebrate the achievements of its contemporaries.Ìý

The 2025 Sheep Farmer of the Year finalists have been selected because of their efforts towards safeguarding the land for future generations and the steps they are taking to embrace sustainable farming practices which work in harmony with the environment. Our 2025 finalists all own or manage a farm in the UK, seeking to proactively reduce their carbon footprints whether that be through exploring regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, soil health, water management stockmanship and renewable energy, to name but a few.Ìý

Finalists Ìý

Amelia Brighouse - Cheshire  Ìý

In the heart of Cheshire, Amelia Brighouse runs a 60-hectare family farm with 950 Poll Dorset sheep, producing premium lambs all year round through an innovative batch-lambing system. By lambing every two months, any ewes not in-lamb are swiftly re-served, enabling up to three crops of lambs per ewe within two years. This efficient, data-driven system maximises output while maintaining high welfare and environmental standards.Ìý

Working alongside her husband, daughter, and an agricultural apprentice, Amelia combines hands-on stockmanship with a focus on education and well-being. Through CEVAS accreditation, the farm also welcomes visitors with physical or mental health challenges, offering therapeutic farm experiences that connect people with nature and animals.Ìý

Sustainability underpins every decision at Brighouse Farms. The family has genetically selected for strong maternal and finishing traits, manages flock diets to improve the omega-3:6 ratio in meat, and reduces methane emissions from ruminants. Further measures include hedgerow and tree planting, rainwater harvesting, and a heat pump for renewable energy.Ìý

Amelia's approach balances production, education, and environmental care, showing that small family farms can lead the way toward a low-carbon, high-welfare, and community-focused future for British sheep farming.Ìý

READ NOW:ÌýIntroducing the finalists for the British Farming Awards Grassland Farmer of the Year 2025

Matt Bagley - Lincolnshire Ìý

At the University of Lincoln's 200-hectare Riseholme Park Farm, Matt Bagley leads a pioneering mixed enterprise that combines practical farming excellence with education and research. Managing 350 breeding ewes alongside a herd of pedigree Lincoln Red cattle, Matt has transformed flock health, productivity, and student engagement over the past five years.Ìý

Once plagued by lameness and low performance, the sheep enterprise now achieves a 190% lambing rate through data-led management, selective breeding, vaccination, and preventative care. By integrating cover crops into the arable rotation, Matt has doubled livestock carrying capacity, improved soil structure, and enhanced biodiversity across the historic estate.Ìý

A passionate advocate for the next generation, Matt involves more than 600 students in lambing each year, providing vital hands-on experience and fostering curiosity about modern, data-driven livestock farming. Wildlife monitoring and rewilded field margins have enriched habitats, while herbal leys and reduced soil disturbance support resilience against climate extremes.Ìý

Looking ahead, Matt is investing in advanced sheep-handling technology and sharing innovation with peers through on-farm industry events. His work demonstrates how precision management, education, and environmental care can combine to deliver profitable, sustainable, and forward-thinking British sheep farming.Ìý

READ NOW:ÌýCalls for Welsh bluetongue rules to be reassessed

Tom Cox - Staffordshire Ìý

Farming in partnership with his wife and parents in Staffordshire, Tom Cox manages 600 Welsh Mule ewes alongside a thriving dairy and beef enterprise at Cox Farming Company. His flock is run with precision, efficiency and a strong data-driven approach, combining innovation with exemplary husbandry.Ìý

Having started with pedigree Suffolks aged 12, Tom transitioned to a commercial flock to improve profitability, grassland management and integration within the wider mixed system. Lambing begins in February, with meticulous hygiene and colostrum protocols achieving zero cases of watery mouth in 2025. Every ewe and lamb is tracked through EID and whiteboard systems, ensuring full traceability and exceptional attention to detail.Ìý

Flock performance is outstanding, achieving a 208% scanning rate and targeting two lambs sold per ewe. All lambs are marketed deadweight to M&S through ABP, with rapid growth rates allowing sales within 105 days. Tom also contributes to the AHDB RamCompare project, testing top-performing sires to drive national genetic progress.Ìý

Sustainability is central to the business, with solar energy, cover crops, hedge planting and habitat creation supporting net zero goals. Dedicated to community and education, Tom regularly engages with schools and serves as an ABP Lamb Ambassador, proudly promoting British farming's standards and values.Ìý

READ NOW:Ìý"A ewe that can look after herself": How one Devon farm is future-proofing through Aberfield genetics

George and Nicola (GT Wordie) - Aberdeenshire Ìý

Farming 554 hectares in Aberdeenshire, George and Nicola Wordie run a dynamic mixed enterprise combining suckler cows with 1,040 Scotch Mule and Texel sheep. Their system is built on efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability, with a focus on adapting to changing conditions and new technology.Ìý

The flock, which scans at an impressive 218%, lambs indoors from February to March. Lambs are finished from grass and milk, with triplets managed using an automatic Volac milk machine to improve ewe health and speed up finishing times. A new multi-purpose shed, used for both winter housing and lambing, has helped mitigate weather challenges and enhance productivity.Ìý

Innovation underpins the business, from calving and lambing cameras to automatic handling systems that reduce labour and stress. Nicola has also built a powerful social media presence, sharing the realities of farming with more than 42,000 followers, promoting agriculture and providing an open space for mental health conversations.Ìý

Committed to sustainability, the Wordies engage in long-term environmental schemes, protect wildlife habitats, and run five wind turbines. With Nicola set to join as a partner, the family continues to combine generational experience with modern thinking, championing efficient, responsible, and forward-looking sheep farming in Scotland.Ìý

Taking place on 16 October at The VOX in Birmingham, the event will welcome industry professionals from across the country to celebrate British agriculture and the successes it has had this year.Ìý