Erin, 17, set to take over family farm
SHEEPDOG ACE ONE OF UK’S YOUNGEST FARMERS
A TEENAGE sheepdog handler is set to become one of Britain’s youngest ever farmers.
Erin Fflur McNaught, 17, is already making plans for Pandy Farm, a 250acre beef and sheep holding near Bala.
She’s due to take over from granddad Robert after A levels next year when she turns 18.
But Erin already runs the farm mostly by herself – with a bit of help from her siblings and sheepdogs.
“We live next door to the farm and I’ve been helping out since I was a young girl,” she said.
“I’ve been very lucky – Taid has taught me so much and farming is all
I’ve ever wanted to do.
“Unfortunately he’s had two major operations, so can’t do the lambing and calving any more, so he’s retiring next year.
“For me the main thing is keeping the place going for him – I’ll be the fourth generation to run the farm.”
Erin is already a star in the sheepdog world, having won the Young Handlers title at the International trials in 2018.
Last autumn she became the first female handler to lift the coveted One Man and His Dog trophy in its revived junior-and-senior format.
As one of three young handlers from Wales, she had been looking forward to competing in the World Trials in Yorkshire in September.
However, due to the coronavirus crisis, much of the 2020 trials season is likely to be a write-off: the World Trails have already been postponed to next year.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Erin. “I won One Man and His Dog with Sam, who’s now aged five and in his prime, and I was looking forward to showing him off this year.
“He is a very special dog. He’s big but he has a kind heart and will do anything for you. On the farm I work Sam every single day – he is my righthand man.”
Also helping out on the farm are brother Robin Mac, 15, and sister Mari Elen, 13.
Mum Marilyn, a teacher who is herself a noted sheepdog handler, keeps an eye on them, while dad Arwel joins Erin at trials.
Currently the farm has just 200 Welsh Mountain ewes as much of the land is rented out.
Erin, who uses Aberfield tups, plans to take the land back in hand and grow the flock by retaining ewe lambs.
She also rears dairy calves and aims to bull heifer calves to grow her small suckler beef herd.
Newest arrivals on the farm are two litters of 11 sheepdog pups. Both lots were sired by Sam and were out of daughters of Quories Moxy, with whom Erin won the International Young Handlers.
“Moxy is very special to me,” she said. “She was my first ever bitch and she is my best friend – she lives with me in the house.
“Unfortunately she was diagnosed with diabetes last summer, so she’s retired from competing.
“Luckily I’d already had one litter of pups out of her – two of her daughters produced this spring’s litters.”
Born four days apart, the two sets of pups are now almost eight weeks old.
Erin is retaining four and all but two of the others were pre-sold, mostly by word of mouth.