NORTH Yorkshire sheep farmer Ian Ford has been recognised for his commitment to flock health, disease management and sharing knowledge across the industry after winning this year’s VetPartners Farm Health Champion award.
Ian, who farms at Moorfoot in Glaisdale, produces Texel tups for sale and manages a hefted moorland flock on 4,500ha of the North York Moors, with an additional 32ha at home.
The Farm Health Champion award recognises farmers who are developing new initiatives, diversifications, milestones or unique thinking through their partnership with their vets. It is part of a series of sustainability awards launched by VetPartners – a group of veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses led by vets, across the UK and Europe – celebrating farmers aiming to make a difference to animal health and the environment.
Operating a mostly closed flock, Moorfoot has 70 breeding Texel ewes plus 30 hoggs at the home farm; and 200 Blackface sheep, with genetics tracing back more than 100 years.
Winner goes beyond the minimum requirements
Dawn Bowness, clinical director at Clevedale Vets in North Yorkshire, nominated Ian for the award.
She said: “The farm has a long-standing preventative health mindset, and Ian goes beyond the minimum requirements set out in the formal flock health plan to support year-round tup health, disease prevention and responsible sales.
“He also organises young farmer events on farm and presentations at the local auction mart and his home farm, encouraging education within the farming community.”
Ian added: “We’ve been working with Dawn and Pippa at Clevedale Vets for 20 years and we’re very lucky to have two experienced ovine vets that we see as collaborators and friends.
“Investing in good veterinary input can prevent much larger costs later. It also ensures every tup we sell is as healthy as possible, and the veterinary backing gives us that credibility which is only good for the business.”
Runner-up also deserves praise
Runner-up for the award was Burgess and Sons Lodge Farm in Leicestershire, an 850-acre dairy enterprise with an additional beef herd and home-bred replacements.
Herd manager, Calvin Otto, takes a proactive, preventative approach to herd health, using data to inform decision making and maintains a strong relationship with his vets.
Farm vet Mel Julian of Cross Counties Farm Vets in the Midlands, nominated the farm for the award, praising their continued efforts to tighten their calving block and reduce lameness, mastitis and ill health.
The highly commended farm in the Farm Health Champion category was Upper Farm, a Staffordshire County Council progression farm where Joel and Emma Redfern run 360 pedigree Holstein cows. Nominated by Sarah Hampson from LLM Farm Vets in Shropshire, the farm is making ongoing improvements to calf health, improved fertility and cow comfort.
Following the success of the inaugural year in 2025, this year’s sustainable farming awards continue to go from strength to strength, with high numbers of farm vets across the country taking the opportunity to nominate their clients in recognition of their efforts to improve animal health and environmental stewardship.
VetPartners Farm Director, Ian Cure, commended the three farms as innovative businesses who are focused on preventative health care.
“It is great to see the winners and shortlisted farms in this award all working proactively with their vets to plan ahead and become more business resilient as well as striving for high welfare standards.”