Arable farmer Fred Ollerton of Home Farm in Standish is the new NFU Lancashire County Chairman, succeeding dairy farmer Graham Young.
Potatoes, cereals, oil seed rape, fodder beet and grass are all grown on Fred Ollerton's 1,800 acre Home Farm in Standish, Wigan.
The family have been at the site since 1970 when they moved from nearby Cross Farm.
Fred has agreed to be NFU Lancashire County Chairman for one year and is prepared to lead the county’s farmers at a time when his son Antony and nephews Christopher and Robert are getting more actively involved in the business he shares with brother George.
Married to Denise, Fred also has a daughter called Catherine who works in a firm of solicitors and is engaged to be married to Heath Charnock based dairy farmer Tom Riley in 2013.
The farm has always been in NFU membership and Fred is a dedicated supporter of the Young Farmers Club (YFC) organisation. He was YFC Lancashire County Chairman in 1982 to 1983 and YFC Lancashire President in 2003 to 2006 and then the YFC’s Northern Area President in 2006 and 2007.
Fred Ollerton said: "I am flattered and honoured to have been approached to be the NFU Lancashire County Chairman. I’ve always wanted to be NFU Lancashire County Chairman so couldn’t pass up this opportunity because I’m sure I wouldn’t get this chance a second time."
"I’m a strong supporter of YFC and I’m passionate about young people coming into agriculture and being given a chance to flourish. After all they are our future."
Fred certainly practises what he preaches as he and his brother are giving Antony, Christopher and Robert more freedom to drive the business forward.
Fred added: "Farmer and growers in all sectors have increased costs to bear at the present time and during my time as county chairman I will be working hard for a fairer margin for each sector."
