Shepherdess, Shearing Instructor & Wool Advocate

Hailing from Hampshire, Susie Parish has dedicated her life to farming, shearing, and championing British wool. As a shepherdess at The Grey Sheep Company, she oversees a flock of 500 sheep bred specifically for wool production. In addition to managing the flock, she plays a crucial role in the on-farm spinning mill, processing fleece into high-quality knitting yarns that are sold across the UK and exported worldwide.

Beyond her work at The Grey Sheep Company, Susie runs a sheep and alpaca shearing business and has carved out an impressive career in the wool industry. She made history as the first female shearing instructor for British Wool and has become a well-respected voice in the industry, holding leadership positions as Southern Region Chairman and Hampshire Representative for British Wool and Southeast Region Chairman for the NSA.

Her contributions to wool and shearing education extend far beyond the farm. As a Lister Shearing Ambassador and BISCA shearing judge, Susie has promoted the industry on numerous prime-time TV and radio shows. She also played a key role in the NFU Schools’ Project, demonstrating shearing and wool processing via a live stream that reached an incredible 60,000 children.

Susie’s achievements have been widely recognised, including winning the Farmers Weekly Farm Diversification Award as part of The Grey Sheep Company. However, one of her proudest personal moments remains winning the ladies’ class at the Royal Welsh Show, a testament to her skill and dedication to shearing.

Farming is more than a profession for Susie—it’s a way of life. Having been raised on a farm, she has always been drawn to working with animals, particularly sheep and border collies. The ever-changing seasons, the land, and the wildlife continue to inspire her daily, making it impossible to imagine doing anything else.