There are few better-known women in the industry than Aileen McFadzean, who has recently celebrated 25 years dedicated to the infamous Blackie breed. Aileen lives at Woodhead of Mailer Farm, Perth and is married to George, with two boys, Duncan and Malcolm.

Background?

I was born and brought up at Burnhead Farm, in Kilsyth alongside my brother Duncan and sister, Mhairi. From a young age, I always said I wanted to be a shepherdess...a career path that was influenced by my father, Donald, who was certainly passionate about hill farming. Unfortunately, my dad died when I was 16 but his love for farming has stuck with me.

I decided to study agriculture at Auchincruive, where I received an HND before moving on and undertaking my practical assignment with Adam Cockburn, at Kingside who was my mentor and a highly respected breeder of Blackies. Funnily enough, before the passing of my father, he and Adam had agreed to 'swap daughters' during our practical assignments and Adam's daughter Jane travelled through to Burnhead – we have remained close family friends since.

After college, I didn't know what I wanted to go on and do career-wise so I wrote to various meat companies and got a job with FMC at their Perth depot, where I was employed as a management trainee. When I started, I worked in every department in the abattoir, including a stint on the slaughter line, before going round 15 abattoirs across the UK to install computer systems in the livestock offices. I then spent 12 years as a livestock buyer for the company, before joining Scotch Premier at Edinburgh where I worked as a procurement manager.

Unfortunately, I got made redundant in 1996 when BSE came into play, and I had no idea what else I wanted to do as I had always worked within the meat trade. Luckily the Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association were advertising for a promotions manager, so I was offered the job and then also took over the role as secretary of the Association a few years later. You could say the rest is history!

What does your job entail?

Well, where do I start! Officially, I am promotions manager and secretary as well as treasurer for the Association, which requires eight general meetings per year, producing an annual breed journal, dealing with memberships, and running the social media accounts....to name a few! I also represent the breed on the Scottish National Sheep Association (NSA) committee, as well as being a trustee of NSA. The Association also runs a National Show which is held every two years, alternatively between Scotland and Northern Ireland and we hold an annual in lamb female sale.

The job has grown massively over the years, especially in regard to social media. We are the only breed society that work to produce real-time sale updates as they happen on our social media platforms, whether that be live streaming or listing prices as they come. It's hugely important that people enjoy being able to see what's happening, especially those who cannot make it to the market themselves – the service is not just for our members but for the whole industry to appreciate the quality of stock being sold.

What is it about the Blackie that does it for you?

I was brought up with Blackface sheep and they really are the mainstay of the Scottish sheep industry. Within the breed, we have got types to suit the needs of any hill farmer. The breed has changed as fashion changes, as with any breed of sheep, but its important that they never lose their best characteristics of hardiness and survivability. Its important that breeders do not lose focus on the main traits, while still producing a wether lamb that’s fit to go on and produce a carcass as good as all the other breeds.

The Blackie has a unique place and it’s not competition against other breeds that worries me...it’s government policy which is the real threat. The breed will always have it’s place as being the best sheep for hill ground at the top of the stratification system within the UK.

Favourite show and sale?

My favourite show has the be the Royal Highland. The quality of stock is fantastic, and I steward the Blackies each year which I thoroughly enjoy, as well as catching up with old friends, society members and colleagues.

All the tup sales are my favourite sales. Dalmally has the best atmosphere as it’s still an old-fashioned centre, but I do also enjoy Lanark seeing the top end of tups being sold. It's tremendous seeing the fruits of the breeders’ labour throughout the year, as well as seeing everyone coming together and enjoying successes within the breed.

Job satisfaction?

I enjoy watching the breeders receive a good trade for their stock, as I know there is a great deal of hard work that goes into producing these sheep.

Running successful in-lamb female sales and our National Show is also something I’m proud of, however, one of my favourite jobs would be creating our annual journal. It’s a fantastic publication and I love putting it together, but maybe I’ll get it all perfect one year!

What is your Mantra in life?

‘Work hard but play hard, (although that’s not as easy as it used to be...) and to do the best that I can within my limits.’

Another would be ‘respect others and always be nice to and about people, always be there for family and friends if required as they are so important in my life’.

Most influential person?

There are too many to mention within the Blackie world, however, in my early career it would be Alan Stevenson, who was one of my first bosses at FMC He was a great boss and a role model to me...an all-round lovely person. I certainly looked up to him during my time at FMC.

I also must mention my uncles, Jimmy and Archie MacGregor as they were there for me when dad wasn’t. Archie has been very influential and always there when I needed advice or support about my career.

Biggest achievement?

I'd have to say that winning the Queens Cup at Smithfield with an Aberdeen-Angus steer was one of them, he was called ‘end of the line’ as he was the last calf out a cow that George gave me as a wedding present! Others would be judging the butchers lambs at Smithfield, cross sheep at the RHS and the beef cattle at Allams Show, in Northern Ireland.

I can't forget to mention my two lovely boys.

Biggest hurdle you have faced?

Working with so many Breed Presidents....joking!!! During my time working within the meat industry and being the only female livestock buyer, it was a challenge being accepted into a male dominated industry. However, I overcame that quite quickly as I was determined to stay and do my job properly.

Another would be the National Scrapie Plan, which affected the sheep industry and I spent many meetings in London persuading the point that the scheme was the wrong thing for the industry. I felt that I contributed and spoke up on behalf of hill farmers who did not want to reduce the gene pool any more than what it originally was going to be.

Apart from the Blackie, what’s your favourite breed of sheep?

The Scotch Mule. They are great mothers, as well as prolific and easy kept – and produce tremendous prime lambs.

Biggest change in the industry?

There are many which relate to Government policy but one that has pleased me is the increase of women working within the industry. When I was younger, women weren’t encouraged to be involved in any part of agriculture but over the last 20 years, women have become very involved and I’m extremely proud to see that. They're just as able, if not more, as any man within this industry.

Advice you’d give to your younger self?

Follow your dreams and work hard to reach your goals. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it!

Hobbies?

I don’t have time for hobbies!!! I was a past chairman of Perth Show many years ago, and in my spare time I breed Miniature Schnauzer and Collie puppies.

Concerns about the industry?

I've been honoured to contribute to help shape policy within the industry, representing the hill farmers and the NSA within the government but they don’t always listen, especially at the moment when carbon and trees are a high on their agenda.

I would like to see the halt of the decline in Blackface sheep numbers, which has happened due to subsidy changes many years ago and we are now feeling the pressure due to the influx of tree planting on good productive hill land. The decline of numbers is through no fault in the breed and hill farming is being faced with one problem after another – making it very difficult for any young person’s looking to get involved in the industry to do just that.