Susie Parish - British Wool Ambassador
Name
Susie Parish
Where are you from?
Hampshire
Age
51
Details of your farm/shearing business
I’m a shepherdess at The Grey Sheep Company, running a flock of 500 sheep bred for wool production. I also work in the on farm spinning mill, processing the wool ready for spinning. Alongside this, I run a sheep and alpaca shearing business.
My personal and professional achievements
Becoming the first female shearing instructor for British Wool. Winning the Farmers Weekly Farm Diversification Award as part of The Grey Sheep Company. We produce high-quality knitting yarns from our sheep, spun in our on farm mill, and then sold across the UK and exported globally. I’ve been fortunate enough to promote shearing, wool and its many uses on many prime-time TV and radio shows across the channels. Demonstrating shearing and talking about processing the wool on a live stream into schools, reaching 60,00 children as part of the NFU schools’ project. Southern Region Chairman and Hampshire representative for British Wool Southeast Region Chairman for the NSA BISCA shearing judge. Lister shearing Ambassador.
How long have you been farming?
I was brought up on a farm and have worked in farming all my life.
Why Farming?
I have always loved working with animals, especially sheep and border collies. Farming also enables me to work outside on the land and fully experience the different seasons, wildlife, flora, and fauna that I love so much. I find it hard to imagine doing anything else.
Proudest moment in shearing/wool handling
The first time I won the ladies class at the Royal Welsh Show
Why did you want to be a British Wool ambassador?
Wool plays a huge part in my life in one form or another. I think it is the most incredible natural fibre. Unfortunately, over the years wool and its many benefits and uses have become overlooked, not only by the consumer but in some cases by the farmer too.
I am eager to take any opportunity I get to promote wool, and the very important role that British Wool must play. Becoming a British Wool Ambassador will give me another platform to educate people, from within the industry and outside as to why it is so important to support British Wool and the work it does.
Who has been your inspiration?
Barrie Kent. Barrie was not only shearing sheep in his nineties, but still competing! Aside from that he is one of the nicest people you could wish to meet.
