"It’s a good setup we’ve got. The place works. The hills, the stock, the systems — we’ve got something worth keeping going."
Farmer Spotlight: Ian Fourth Generation Farmer, New Dad, and Proudly Keeping It Simple
In the hills of Scotland, where the land shapes how you farm and when you work, Ian is running a fourth-generation family operation alongside his brother Andrew and parents James and Jane — and now, his own growing family too. He’s not trying to reinvent farming. He’s just focused on doing things right: keeping systems clear, stock healthy, and the family tradition going strong without getting stuck in the past.
Leaving Home to Learn, Coming Back to Build
Ian always had a strong pull back to the land. He did a stint at uni studying rural business management, worked on other farms, and picked up plenty of different ways of doing things. But home was always the goal.
"I tried being away. Learned some things. But at the end of the day, I wanted to be back with the sheep, with the cows, and doing the work here. It’s where I feel right."
The family farm’s been running for over 100 years, and now Ian and his brother Andrew are part of the next generation taking the reins. The transition hasn’t been dramatic — just a steady handover, shaped by experience and plenty of time on the ground.
"There’s not loads of ways to do things up here. You’ve got hills, you’ve got stock, you’ve got the way the land works. We just do what works best and try not to overcomplicate it."
Running a Hill Farm: Ewes, Weather, and Working With What You’ve Got
Right now, Ian’s managing around 2,000 ewes. Around 1,700 are kept on the hill full-time, while the rest rotate through better pasture. The system relies on working closely with the land and responding to the conditions, especially when lambing rolls around.
"We lamb everything outside. Singles get on with it themselves in the hill parks. The twins get a bit more watching — but we don’t mollycoddle them. If you’ve got to be in there lambing everything, something’s gone wrong."
He’s seen trends shift over the years — sheep bred more for looks than function — but he’s staying focused on what works for their hill environment.
"We’re looking more at looks these days too, but survival’s still the priority. They’ve got to go out on the hill all year and cope with the elements. There’s no point in having a good-looking sheep if it can’t handle a hard winter."
Breeding is split. Half the flock gets crossed with a Blueface Leicester to produce mules for sale. The other half is pure bred Scottish Blackface to produce hardy hill replacements. All lambs are finished at home where possible, on forage crops and winter grazing, often on rented land further afield.
Life with Three Kids and 2,000 Ewes
Ian and his wife Beth recently welcomed twins — adding to their two-year-old son — so juggling farm life and fatherhood has taken on a whole new meaning.
"Before, I was working till nine every night, happily. Now, I’m making time to be home, help out, and just enjoy being a dad. The farm still gets done — you just shift your priorities."
The kids already show signs of interest, especially the toddler who loves checking stock with his dad.
"He doesn’t do any work — it’s just being around it, seeing the animals, learning to be safe. That’s enough for now."
Becoming a parent has changed how Ian thinks about the future of the farm too. It’s not just about keeping it running — it’s about making sure it can last.
"You want to hand over something that’s solid. Not just carry on tradition — actually improve things if you can. Build on what’s here."
Using Tech That Fits the Way You Work
Ian isn’t someone who gets carried away with the latest gadgets. But he’s also not stuck in the past. When something works and saves time, he’s all in — and FlockFinder has become one of those tools.
"We’re using it mainly for batch records — medicines, field movements, the basics. It’s easy."
With multiple people working on the farm at any given time, having a shared record-keeping system has cut down on crossed wires and repeated jobs.
"You don’t need to chase anyone up about what’s been done. Just open the app and it’s there. We’re not missing anything."
Compliance is another area where having a digital system has paid off.
"For inspections, it’s just easier. You’ve got everything on your phone, ready to show them. No digging through paperwork."
He admits he’s not a huge fan of tech for the sake of it — but when it helps you get through the work faster, he’s on board.
"We’ve got five different areas we run stock on, so having one system that brings all that together just makes sense."
The Real Industry Challenge? People.
Tech is helpful. But in Ian’s view, the biggest challenge facing the sheep industry isn’t systems or machinery — it’s people.
"There’s not enough good young stockmen coming through. That’s the real worry. You still need people who know how to manage animals and read the land"
When Ian was involved in Young Farmers, he saw a strong club community — but not everyone was choosing to stay in the industry. With the labour pool shrinking, the pressure on farms to do more with fewer people is only growing.
"Where we are, there used to be four shepherds working this place. Now there’s three of us doing all of it. That’s just the way it’s gone."
He’d love to see more young folk get into the industry, and his advice is simple:
"Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Go speak to farmers. Join your local club. People will help you if you’re keen."
Final Word: Keep It Simple, Do It Well, Have Patience
Ian isn’t chasing shiny new trends or overthinking things. He knows the land, the livestock, and the people he’s working with — and he’s clear on what success looks like.
"It’s not about being flashy. Just get the job done, do it right, and try to leave things better than you found them."
Quickfire with Ian
- Biggest challenge this year? The weather. Always is.
- Most frustrating lambing issue? Mothers leaving one twin behind. Every field had an orphan this year.
- Most helpful tech? FlockFinder. Doesn’t slow us down, keeps us right.
- Parenting win? My two-year-old checking stock with me. Doesn’t get better.
- Legacy goal? Leave a working system the kids can step into, if they want it.
