Farming leaders recognised in King's Birthday Honours

Figures from across farming, livestock advocacy, food production and rural events have been named in the King’s Birthday Honours, highlighting the breadth of service behind British agriculture.

This year’s list recognises several people who have made long-standing contributions to farming, animal welfare, sustainability, business innovation and rural communities.

Among those honoured is Scottish farmer and businessman Maitland Mackie, who has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to farming, business innovation and sustainability.

Mr Mackie’s Aberdeenshire enterprise brings together dairy farming, arable production, food manufacturing and renewable energy.

Based at Inverurie, the business includes 650 hectares of grass and arable land producing feed for 300 Holstein cows, while its ice cream operation, launched in 1986, produced more than 15 million tubs last year.

The business has also invested in sustainability measures including solar energy, wind turbines and rainwater harvesting.

Mr Mackie, who took over the business from his father in 1998, said the recognition reflected a shared effort.

“This honour is a tremendous privilege and one that reflects the efforts of many people over many years,” he said.

“What the business and farm have achieved has only been possible because of the dedication of our customers, colleagues and family, who have supported us throughout the journey.”

The honours also recognised leadership within the livestock sector, with National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker awarded an MBE for services to agriculture and animal health and welfare.

Mr Stocker has led the NSA since 2011, helping to strengthen its role as a leading voice for sheep farmers and the wider UK livestock sector.

The organisation said he had worked to keep sheep farming central to debates around food production, environmental management, rural livelihoods and animal welfare.

His earlier work with the Soil Association helped shape his focus on sustainable food systems and the role livestock can play within them, influencing the NSA’s work on responsible medicine use, efficient grazing management and soil health.

Mr Stocker said the award was deeply meaningful.

“Being given this award is such an honour and it is difficult to put into words what it means to me,” he said.

He said he was grateful for the recognition of his work and described agriculture and animal health and welfare as “central components of sustainable life on earth”.

NSA Chairman Pete Delbridge said the honour was “thoroughly deserved”.

He said Mr Stocker had represented sheep farmers with “integrity, passion and professionalism” while building links across the wider agricultural community.

Long-serving farm organisation figures in Northern Ireland were also included in the honours, including recently retired Ulster Farmers’ Union chief executive Wesley Aston, who has received an MBE for services to agriculture.

Mr Aston, who comes from a family farming background in County Armagh, first joined the UFU as a policy officer covering pigs, poultry and fish farming before rising through the organisation to become chief executive in 2015.

Northern Ireland farmer Robert Moore has also been awarded an MBE. Mr Moore farms arable crops and Aubrac beef cattle across 160 hectares in County Londonderry.

The rural events sector was also recognised, with former Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive Steve Hughson receiving an MBE for services to agriculture, tourism and events in Wales.

Born in Builth Wells and raised on his family’s beef and sheep farm, Mr Hughson went on to have a distinguished career in the police before joining the RWAS, where he was recruited to help revitalise the society.

He has also served on the Welsh Government Visitor Economy Forum and was elected chair of Wales Young Farmers Clubs board of trustees in 2024.

The honours show how agricultural service now spans far beyond the farm gate, covering food brands, livestock welfare, policy leadership, rural tourism and the next generation of farming organisations.