The National Sheep Association’s (NSA) chairman and Country Antrim sheep farmer, Samuel Wharry, sadly passed away on 5th May, aged 56.
Wharry represented NSA Northern Ireland Region as a trustee of the UK-wide association in 2012 and was elected national chairman in January 2015.
In a statement announcing his sudden passing, the NSA highlighted that during his chairmanship Wharry was “particularly passionate about attracting young people into the industry”, as he was an active supporter of the NSA Next Generation project since its creation.
Wharry had also entered into a share farming agreement of his own farm in recent years, which enabled him to devote time to NSA, as well as working alongside his young business partner.
The pair made management decisions surrounding the purebred Scottish Blackface flock, as well as various breeding initiatives, including crossing with the Swaledale and Lleyn, to gather practical data on maternal lines, as co-researcher and partner farm with AFBI, Hillsborough.
NSA’s chief executive, Phil Stocker said: “It is difficult to believe we have lost such a truly valued friend and colleague. Sam was such a strong, capable and enthusiastic individual who gave us all so much, something he would have continued to do long into the future if he had been able to. My thoughts, and those of NSA, go out to his family at this unbearable time.”
In a collective statement, the NSA Board of Trustees praised Wharry as an “exceptional NSA chairman,” as well as a “fantastic ambassador for the UK sheep industry” and added: “His loss is a great one, to his family and friends, business partner and all of his associates through the sheep world. He will be sorely missed.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
