Milly Fyfe has been appointed chief executive of the Shorthorn and Beef Shorthorn Cattle Societies from 1 June. She succeeds Frank Milnes who is retiring at the end of July after 16 years.
A former National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs’ chairman representing the views of 25,000 rural young people from across England and Wales, she moves from the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution where she has held the position of East Midlands regional manager for eight years.
Outside her work commitments, Milly represents various farming organisations including Love British Food fortnight and Tesco Future Farmers Foundation. She is a member of Ladies in Beef, a former director of the Oxford Farming Conference and enjoys writing for and representing agriculture amongst the mainstream and farming media. In 2014, Milly was presented with an inspirational award for women for her dedicated commitment and advocacy work to the charity sector and farming industry.
She lives with her husband, Andrew on the family’s Northamptonshire based beef, sheep and arable farm, has her own projects with Gloucester Old Spot pigs, chickens and a market garden and counts showing pedigree cattle among her hobbies.
She commented: “I am thrilled to be joining the beef and dairy Shorthorn societies. The position marries up my passion for livestock farming and food marketing as well as working with people and helping to support a growing charitable organisation. I look forward to meeting members at the summer shows and sales as well as making an impact within the wider food and farming industry helping to promote the breeds and make a positive difference.”
Shorthorn Society chairman of finance, Edward Crank said: “Frank’s huge dedication and passion for the breed is reflected in the fact Shorthorn registrations have been maintained over the 16 years since he was appointed to the society, whilst dairy farmer numbers have more than halved during the same period. Milly brings new ideas accompanied by massive enthusiasm which leave me confident and excited for the Shorthorn breed’s future. She brings a glass half full to the table.”
Beef Shorthorn Society chairman, Geoff Riby commented: “Frank has been a dynamo. He has kept people on board and got things done for the cattle industry as a whole, not just Beef Shorthorn which has witnessed a 64% increase in BCMS registrations since 2008, the fastest growth of any breed. I am convinced that Milly’s eagerness, tenacity and purpose to deliver make her the right person for this job and to take Beef Shorthorn on to the next chapter.”
