Foxhill stockman, Will Price, takes the stage

Background?

After a year in college and a gap year I knew exactly where I wanted to be and what the agricultural industry had to offer me.

I was lucky enough to land myself a stockmanship job with sheep breeder, Percy Tait, in Worcestershire, working with his highly successful pedigree flocks of Bleu du Maine, Charollais and Rouge. Having worked there for 11 years it really has been where the stem of my career has originated from and I have gained valued experiences along the way.

Sadly, the passing of Percy Tait meant all flocks were dispersed in October last year, which was not an easy day for anyone involved, but it resulted in some fantastic sheep being sold to start new flocks and join established ones, all while setting a few new breed records along the way.

I couldn’t miss the chance to enhance my own flock, so I kept eight Bleu du Maine ewes under my own Willpower prefix and I was fortunate to be able to bring them down to Devon for the start of my next career chapter.

I am now down in Blackborough, Devon, with Michael and Melanie Alford, of Foxhill Farm, which covers 120 acres and a further 90 acres on two other farms. Foxhill is home to Charollais and Texel flocks, as well as a recently established Rouge flock, all of which have a strong pedigree focus with regular embryo flushing work on go.

The family is also famed for having highly renowned herds of Limousin, British Blue and Aberdeen-Angus cattle, all of which have resulted in many championship successes at regional and national level.

What is it you are looking for in an animal?

First and foremost, I like animals with scale and size as you can put a tup of any type on females with size. Then, of course, it has to have good fleshing attributes, correct legs, mouths and feet and then that added breed character and X-factor that is needed to bring home a rosette, or two.

Chosen breeds’ place in the commercial market?

For me the Charollais sheep and Limousin cattle are both the ultimate terminal sire with easy fleshing abilities from just grass, which is every farmer’s dream.

The Bleu du Maine is a great maternal sire leaving very milky females with great maternal attributes and when crossed with a white-faced ewe – in which we use the Cheviot – leave extremely nice looking ewes.

Has the breed changed for the better?

The Charollais has improved vastly in recent years. Their commercial value has got better and they really are the best terminal sire in my eyes. They can get their strong characters and weight across to their lambs.

On the flip side, the Rouge is sadly not as good a sheep as they were 10 years ago, there are fewer and fewer members in the Society and it is becoming harder to find a new stock ram, due to the reduction in number of flocks.

If you had to choose another breed to go into, what would it be?

Out with the various breeds we already have, the Bluefaced Leicester has always held a soft spot for me, I love the look of them and cannot believe how good their tops are every time I handle them – maybe I only always handle the best…

First outing for the Willpower flock was this year's Great Yorkshire Show, with this ewe lamb standing first in its class

What got you involved in showing to start with?

When I was just a young boy, we purchased a Bleu du Maine ram lamb at the main sale at Builth from Stan and Hilary Kilby. As the ram had a pedigree certificate my grandmother thought it would be nice for me to take him to our local show, little did she know this was the start of my showing addiction.

The following year I had a small flock of my own Bleu du Maines and it has all snowballed from there, as well as working along side Percy Tait for many years, showing has never not been an option!

Best Highland Show achievements?

It has got to be winning the inter-breed sheep pairs at the Royal Highland Show in 2019 with the Rouge for Percy.

Biggest showing achievement?

Taking the Great Yorkshire Show inter-breed champion four years on a trot with a Rouge female, beginning in 2011.

Best sale day?

The best and saddest day was the Perdi and Knighton dispersal, held in October, 2020. A real heart wrenching day after putting in so much effort and not just that day, but for the past 11 years of service for Percy Tait. He truly was an inspiration, it was just gutting to see it all go.

Which was the best animal you’ve ever shown?

Knighton Harriet, a Rouge female that was shown from a gimmer to a four-year-old ewe. This ewe took more breed and inter-breed championships than I can remember. She was a well-known ewe in the showing circuit at the time.

I remember being asked on the gate of the Highland Show if ‘that ewe’ was in the back of the lorry. She won the Great Yorkshire Show single inter-breed three years on the trot, the Royal Welsh inter-breed pairs, as well as the Continental inter-breed champion and reserve inter-breed at the last ever Royal Show. Her list is endless.

What’s the best animal you’ve ever seen?

Logie Durno Kate. She took the Royal Highland Show Charollais championship in 2012 and inter-breed at the Royal Welsh the same year. She was as close to perfect as you could get – she knew what she was doing and caught the eye of many for her strong breed characters.

Abiding memory?

Winning the pairs at the Royal Welsh with a Rouge and Simon Norman was helping me. As he went to catch the ram, he dived on him and his shoe went flying through the air – a very funny moment for everyone spectating!

Biggest disappointment?

Never winning the Royal Highland Show inter-breed. We managed to take the reserve and the inter-breed pairs but never the supreme. Safe to say it is on my bucket list…

Most influential person?

This is possibly the easiest question I’ll ever answer – Percy Tait. He taught me everything I know and I really couldn’t thank him enough for all the valuable experiences and opportunities he has passed my way.

This year's inter-breed champion, the Charollais tup

Your choice of best shepherd ever?

William Ingram, from Logie Durno. Looking from the outside, he looks to know everything you need to know and has a keen eye for many breeds. The business he has got going is something else. He has always been a master in my eyes and has always been the one I inspired to be like as a young boy all the way through my career.

Favourite quote?

‘That’s a real un!’

If you could change one thing, what would it be?

Devon would be closer to home! I love my new job and Devon is a beautiful county, but I do miss my home county.

Best advice for someone starting off in the industry?

Don’t buy animals in bits, try to buy the best you can afford and really focus on one breed until you find your feet in the industry.

Best investment?

My dogs. They just make my life so much easier. They are my right and left arms and I really couldn’t do my job without them.

Are you involved in any committees?

I am currently the secretary for the central region of Charollais sheep and have been for the past four years, even though I am down in Devon.

The future of the showing circuit?

I can’t see it changing too much. It’s great to see them back and I’m sure many show societies have suffered financially, so let’s hope we can fully return to a normal show season next year.

You have only got to look around and see the youngsters that are already coming into the industry. The few shows that have gone ahead this year just proves that everyone is desperate to get back out to showing and mixing with like-minded people, we have all missed it.

Could you imagine a life without showing?

Definitely not. If it wasn’t sheep and cattle, it would be something else!