Suffolk Sheep Society CEO, Barrie Turner’s update to members.
Time marches on as we move through another year in our cyclical calendar of events, and the summer show season is now upon us. It all begins with the prestigious Balmoral Show here in Northern Ireland, an event that remains a focal point for the agricultural industry. If you have never attended, it is certainly worth a visit.
Show Dates
RUAS Balmoral – 13th May 2026
Royal Three Counties – 12th June 2026
Royal Highland Show – 18th June 2026
Great Yorkshire Show – 15th July 2026
Royal Welsh Show – 20th July 2026
Council
These updates provide an opportunity to reflect on Council activity over the past three months.
At our most recent meeting, we saw several changes in Council membership. Diana Lindon and Iain Barbour stepped down, and we thank them for their valued contributions over the years. We welcome James Wallace from the Scottish Branch and Kevin Hasemore from the South East Branch to Council.
After three years as Chair, Jane Soulsby has stepped back from the role, handing over to Andrew Evans, who has effectively been preparing for the position during that time. We extend our thanks to Jane for her dedication, not only as Chair, but for her service on Council since 2007. David Miskelly has been appointed as Vice Chair.
Glenys Morgan handed over the President’s Crook to Glynis Soulsby for the coming year, while the Northern Ireland Branch nominated John Hegarty as President Elect.
Overall, the Society remains in a strong position, with committed individuals ensuring effective governance and maintaining the momentum created over the past few years.
Council Focus Points
Additional topics discussed at Council included planning for the 2026 sale season and consideration of 2027 sale dates, monitoring levels of embryo transfer (ET) within flocks and continuing to develop our links with Native British Lamb 365, formerly known as the Stratified Sheep Group.
Financial Position
Financially, we remain stable and well managed. A clean audit was presented in person by our auditors at the recent Council meeting.
It is always reassuring to receive a clean audit from a third party, independently scrutinising our financial practices and ensuring transparency. A slight surplus has been recorded on our trading, and Council continues to discuss projects to reinvest this effectively to move the breed forward. Further work is underway to ensure that all investments deliver value.
We remain focused on controlling our costs and increasing income to invest in marketing the Suffolk Advantage, encouraging the wider marketplace to adopt Suffolk genetics, either as a terminal sire or through the ever-popular Suffolk Mule cross.
Key reports show we are ahead of budget on trading and profit and loss for the first quarter. Our debtors list is under control, and our investments (reserves) continue to perform in line with expectations. While recent world events may influence performance as the year progresses, this remains largely outside our control. Our investment company continues to deliver returns, as they have done throughout my tenure as CEO.
Yearbook 2026
The Yearbook has landed earlier this year and features an eclectic mix of technical content, alongside show, sale, and club reports.
Thanks go to Gill in the office, who chases contributions and coordinates the entire publication—no mean feat. We set ourselves the goal of delivering it earlier this year, which was achieved with publication by the end of February. Positive feedback has already been received, and we hope you enjoy the read.
Pre-Sale DNA Testing
Sale season is fast approaching and once again we will offer members access to pre-sale DNA testing. While this is voluntary, it provides reassurance on the sires of consignments and includes a Scrapie Genotype report.
Pre-sale DNA kits can be ordered in the usual way from the office at enquiries@suffolksheep.org and must be returned by Friday 22nd May 2026.
Vendors wishing to participate in the SRUC Scrapie Monitoring Scheme may do so directly with SRUC at their own cost.
2026 Sale Dates
Scottish Area Branch – Lanark
Inspection: 15 July 2026
Show & Sale: 16 July 2026
NI Premier Export Sale – Ballymena
Inspection: 17 July 2026
Show & Sale: 18 July 2026
National Show and Sale – Shrewsbury
Inspection & Show: 24 July 2026
Sale: 25 July 2026
Suffolk Spectacular – Carlisle
Inspection & Show: 31 July 2026
Sale: 1 August 2026
Grassroots
Our breed registry system, Grassroots, has recently undergone an upgrade. While members may notice little immediate change, the transition to a Windows 365 platform has enhanced our ability to move more processes online.
We are now exploring how best to utilise these improvements to simplify processes and deliver additional value to members. It is important that we make full use of the system to maximise efficiency.
New Members
Membership growth continues to be very encouraging, with 41 new members joining since my last update, which had also reported a record month. This represents a strong start to the year and reflects growing confidence in both the breed and the Society.
We are also exploring further initiatives to encourage more sheep farmers to get involved. While the principle is sound, careful consideration is needed to ensure that delivery and structure do not impact the service currently offered to members.
Digital Communication
We have been reviewing our social media and digital communication strategies to ensure we are making the best use of what has become a key part of modern marketing and communication.
I have attended several recent digital marketing mentoring sessions with Gill, funded by Invest NI. These have helped us better understand how to maximise engagement, analyse performance, and adapt or maintain our approach accordingly.
This is already proving valuable and will play an important role in how we promote the Society moving forward.
National Flock Competition 2026
We are delighted to confirm that Glenys Morgan of the Llangeview flock, and our immediate past President, will judge the 2026 National Flock Competition.
Last year’s Overall Champion flock and winner of the Bristol Gold Cup was the Sharps flock, but where will it go this year? You can see this year’s information and previous winners on our website by clicking here.
Entry forms and updated Conditions of Entry are now available and entries close on Monday 11th May 2026. We look forward to receiving your entries.
Birth Notifications
Please remember that the deadline for 2026 Birth Notifications is 31st May 2026. These can be completed online or by returning the paperwork sent in February.
All birth-notified AI or ET lambs must be accompanied by certificates or receipts before they can be processed. Submissions made after the deadline will incur late fees. You can login to Grassroots here.
Looking Ahead
I look forward to seeing many of you over the summer months.
As always, your feedback is welcome on all aspects of Society business. The office team, Anna, Margo and Gill, are on hand to assist you with registrations and any queries you may have.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the Suffolk Sheep Society.
Barrie Turner, CEO
