New Entrant Laura Hinnekins Hailed A Success Story with NSA Scotland Members Andy and Lyn Barr
4th March 2021
Laura Hinnekens aged 31, came to Scotland from Belgium nearly 5 years ago with her car and a pack of dogs. However, having just graduated in Agronomy she continues to have many challenges in front of her.
After being employed on a hill farm, she became self employed and built up a network of farms where she lambed, gathered and carried out general sheep work. Always in her mind was the wish to start her own flock. Through her partner Euan, she met a farm adviser called Colin McPhail. He introduced her to a couple from Biggar. Laura explains: “I was desperate to come to Scotland. During my studies I came back and forward to do some work experience in the UK. I could speak very little English and had no idea what shepherding really was. It was an exciting time in my life”.
Current NSA Scotland Committee member Andy Barr and his wife Lyn, Parkhouse Farm, Biggar were looking for a new entrant to partner with. They had a view to facilitate getting a young person started in the industry and prove that on a small farm with a little help, it was possible to establish a flock and ultimately go onto to a larger business. Andy comments, “Lyn and I had talked for several years about our wish to give a young person the chance to get a foot hold in farming and we came across Laura through a farm consultant friend. She was exactly the kind of candidate we were looking for, being incredibly enthusiastic, hard-working and someone who had a clear vision of her ambitions. We also knew that Parkhouse alone was not large enough at 150 acres, to make a living from - another income was needed to supplement a flock on the farm. Laura breeds, trains and sells working sheep dogs and also does contract shepherding so she was able to supplement her income from out with the farm. We were always keen to find out the sustainable potential of the farm in producing healthy disease- free stock and we knew Laura was the very person to help us achieve that.”
Image (Left to Right): Andy Barr, Lyn Barr, Laura Hinnekins, Euan Mackinnon.
Two years later, Laura now owns 300 North Country Cheviots in lamb to traditional Blue Leicesters, 100 Cheviot Mules in lamb to Texel and 100 to the pure Cheviots. She also intends to sell 200 MV Accredited Mule gimmers this year. Laura has invested heavily on the future health of the flock where all bought in breeding stock are tested for Meadi Visna and as a result are now fully accredited. All stock have also been fully inoculated for all abortions and are on the Heptavac P system. Some of the Cheviots are kept pure for replacement but the majority is put to the traditional Blue Face Leicester. Most of her Blue rams come from a great breeder Rodney Blackhall from Aberdeen, who is also Laura’s FAS mentor. Laura clarifies, “I can call Rodney anytime, he will always give me good advice. He is such an amazing stockman, and really has the mindset I would like to emulate, as a breeder.”
In order to further the health of the flock, Laura is taking part in the Targeted Selective Treatment (TST) trial led by the Moredun Research Institute in partnership with other experts. This trial targets individual rather than whole flock worming optimising treatment to combat wormer resistance.
Laura has given sheepdog tuition in several countries including Belgium, France, Switzerland, Canada, and America. She explains, “I’m really dedicated to my dogs, they make my work so much easier. I train my own dogs and sell some at times. I also enjoy competing. The sheepdog world is amazing, you get to know people and see new places. I got many job opportunities through it and I’m very grateful to be part of this community.” Laura qualified for the Belgian team with Fudji to run at the World trial in 2014 and after moving into Scotland, made the 15th place with Meg in the Scottish team in 2018. She qualified for the Four Nations after getting the 6th place at the Scottish nursery final in 2020 with her dog Zorg.
In addition to her flock and working dogs, Laura and her partner Euan have started a new venture of selling lamb and mutton boxes direct to the customers. Laura comments, “We try to help people reconnect with the farm, especially after the bad publicity the media give us. Lawhill Lamb promotes farming on social media as well. I am very lucky to be able to borrow some of Andy’s cracking Texel tups. I find them tremendous terminal sires. The lambs are doing fantastic at the market as well as lamb boxes. They also give excellent strong Cheviot cross ewe lambs which will be sold as MV Accredited gimmers for breeding.”
Euan, aged 30, has his own flock of Blackies and is full time shearer during the summer. Being born and raised on a sheep farm, Euan has travelled the world following his passion of shearing and has settled to his homeland to allow himself to establish his own flock.
Indeed, this opportunity isn’t forever and at the end of the 5 year lease, Laura will have to find another farm and more new challenges to give room to another young entrant.
Recently, Laura has been offered a contract farming on a hill farm close by in the Scottish Borders. The farm is composed of 800 Scottish Black Face ewes run on 1600 hectares. She hopes to use the experience that she has learnt on many hill farms, to improve the flock and is enjoying sharing more responsibilities now along with the landlord. Laura summarises, “This new entrant opportunity is an amazing way for me to gain more experience but also to build up my numbers and to buy assets to be able to jump into the next step. I love hill farming and I couldn’t hope for anything better than this contract to come along in addition to Parkhouse.”
Image: Blackies being gathered on the hill farm just outside Broughton where Laura has recently being offered a contract.
Should you wish to keep up to date with Laura and Euan, give them a follow on social media or contact by email:
Website: https://www.lawhilllamb.co.uk/
Instagram: @lawhill_lamb
Email: lawhilllamb@gmail.com
