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Cereals grown on the farm are also used to feed his stock, allowing David to use the two businesses to support each other and provide sustainable produce. He also has a very small flock of pedigree poll Dorset sheep.

He has also previously stood as the NFU South West Livestock Board chair and has worked with AHDB as a strategic farm to improve profitability and efficiency.

She is based in Stanton St Quintin in North Wiltshire and as well as working on the farm, Melissa assists with school farm days, helping educate the younger generation about what farmers do and why.

She is a trained riding coach and is very involved in many pony club activities, coaching regularly.

They also have 250 suckler cows all with followers which are retained on farm for finishing or sold as breeding stock, as well as aÌýsmall herd of Dartmoor ponies.

Mat actively grazes over 5 commons with hefted stock and therefore has considerable experience of agreements on commons as well as on the home farm.

He is also a director of Dartmoor Farmers a marketing group that sells premium beef and lamb into select Morrisons stores as well as retailers and wholesales.Ìý

Diverse enterprises include DIY livery, storage letting, letting a fenced paddock to a dog walking business and a small amount of local hay and straw sales.

Most of the farmed arable land is now converted into herbal leys (GS4) through Countryside stewardship and used in conjunction with both the livestock enterprises.

Gabby was also was involved in the GB Calf Strategy since its inception, playing a key role in its publication.

Gabby has previously worked for the NFU in the bTB and Dairy teams, and most recently worked in Agri-Tech looking at livestock vision technology monitoring, before returning to the family business full time.

He is involved in both Countryside Stewardship and SFI schemes including hosting a number of school visits each year.

Diversification projects include dog walking fields, seasonal camping, on farm storage and a contract paddock maintenance service.

James is also the Witney and Chipping Norton branch chair.

James' farm has two main farming enterprises: a 1,500 head sheep flock managed on an extensive system lambing outdoors in May, and a closed herd of 80 spring calving cows using Pedigree Aberdeen Angus genetics.

Complementary to the farming operations is a glamping business of both tents and luxury wooden lodges operating from April to October, and a dog exercising paddock.

Providing filming locations has also been a part of the mix, from major productions to car adverts being filmed on the farm.

James has been active within the NFU representing members for several years, whilst simultaneously encouraging others into representation within branches, counties, and boards.

James enjoys providing farm tours for the glamping guests where he can talk about what the farm, food production and farming in general.

This has often led to some interesting conversations and challenges, but it’s good to be challenged as it makes you question your perceptions and perhaps opens new opportunities.

Emily grew up in Buckinghamshire, finding her love for farming through lambing and calving on friend’s farms.

She graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2018 with a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science and then moved to the South West for her role in the NFU.

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Tom grew up on the Titsey Estate, on the Surrey/Kent border – a mixed farm, farming pedigree Sussex beef cattle and arable. Despite not being on the farm day to day, he goes back to help when he can, where his dad has been the manager for nearly 40 years.

He is a Harper Adams graduate and before joining the NFU, he worked for Cogent, the cattle breeding/AI company, for nearly 12 years as an international sales manager, mainly covering Europe and Canada.

Tom enjoys working with members and is interested in the diversity of agriculture across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. He is particularly interested in dairy, beef and arable operations but is keen to meet as many members are possible helping them with their queries and problems.

Outside of work Tom has a young family and is a keen follower of sports, particularly cricket and football. 

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