The Farmers Club

Nicki was born and raised in Sussex, on her parents’ farm.  Disappointingly for her parents, although she was the first female for several generations, she was a real ‘tomboy’. She liked nothing better than to be out and about on the farm, be it milking cows, helping with the harvest or down at the piggery …. the latter being a real ‘no, no’ with her mother for, as many of you know, the smell rather lingers !

Following the formal part of her education, she went to work for the National Farmers Union in Knightsbridge, initially in the Livestock Department which, at the time, also incorporated Hill Farming and Animal Health. She later joined the Milk Department and clearly remembers the controversial introduction of quotas.

Soon the spirit of adventure was calling and she left the NFU to travel the world for a year on a working holiday, visiting the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. 

On her return to the UK she rejoined the NFU, this time in the Horticultural Department, and met her future husband, David.

It was not long before Nicki was led up to the ‘wilds of the north’ in Cumbria to farm a 250-acre holding in partnership with David. At their peak they were milking 230 pedigree Holstein Friesians plus followers, and growing maize, wheat and barley for their own use. While David was National NFU Treasurer in London, she managed to put the NCA gained from Newton Rigg, to good use by keeping the farm ticking along.

There were several ups and downs, but the worst was losing their herd during the 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic. It was a traumatic experience, exacerbated by the fact that she was Chairman of Aikton Parish Council which at this time had the largest burial site at Great Orton within the parish. Happily, times moved on and the memories dimmed slightly as they restocked and regained some sort of normality. Sadly however they were forced to sell the herd some years later due to David’s ill-health but kept the farm in case her sons, Ben and Doug, who are currently studying veterinary medicine at Glasgow, decide to come home.

They currently have a contract farming agreement with a neighbour, wintering dairy youngstock and growing cereals.

Nicki and David very much look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the year, either in the Club or whilst on their travels at the various regional events and shows around the country.