Tell us a bit about you?

I was born and brought up in Northumberland but for the last 31 years I have lived around and now in Dumfries. I settled in this area after graduating from SRUC – Edinburgh. Originally employed on a large estate, I then spent 15 years working on 2 different family farms. I first joined Davidsons in 2010 and spent six years with the team. After a four-year spell away, I was pleased to return in 2020.

What’s your role, and what do you do day-to-day?

As a Dairy Tech Consultant, most of my day is spent looking after the needs of my customers. That can be visiting them face to face, or chatting on the phone. On farm looking at their cows, discussing requirements and monitoring performance, or at home doing ration updates. Making sure they don’t run out of feed sometimes too! Farmers are busy people, but farming scenarios can change so quickly that my job is to respond to the needs of my customers and help them with timely and practical solutions so that their businesses remain productive and profitable.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Dealing with my customers. Having honest one to one conversations about what I can do to help their businesses. To me it can be seen as a job, to my customers its their life. If I can help influence that in any way possible, then my job that day is done.

What makes you stand out from other consultants?

The fact that I have over 18 years experience working on Dairy farms in Scotland and the North of England, 8 years of that time as a Herd Manager, before I moved into the feed industry. I understand farming and farmers themselves. Ive done my years of the 4am starts and know what it like to experience the toughness but also the rewards that farming brings. Being able to use those years of wisdom that life has given me makes me a stronger more balanced character to be part of any farm advisory team.

What do you do on farm to make you different to others?

My customer is my number one priority. Their needs are the most important. Remembering that, is more important than my own goals. That requires flexibility and adaptability as part of my working day to manage those situations.

What can you do on farm to benefit your customers?

Understand what makes them tick. Why do they get up in a morning? Every day we meet customers with different goals in life, for their business whether that is practical or financial. When working with them to set achievable aims, giving honest, practical ideas is crucial to making that happen. In our case best advice can be backed with the best product solutions. The range of feeds we routinely make will suit nearly all situations and with the ability to produce bespoke meals we can tailor make any ration to suit any situation. Having a flexible approach to working with every individual is vital.

What inspired you to purse this career?

A new adventure in life! My love of farming kept me in Agriculture when I decided to step out of my comfort zone and away from practical farming. All farmers love to see what others are doing and that’s me really. To be able to be a small part of helping people with their farming occupation and making it successful is very rewarding. Also my father had been a ‘salesman’ most of his life selling agricultural and forestry based machinery so to be able to have a go at that myself was something I wanted to try.

What are your hobbies outside work?

Family and friends are very important to me. Travel and seeing new places. Big sports fan, especially football, rugby and cricket. Ive always been a huge rock music fan. The louder and heavier the better! I love attending live music events.

Describe yourself in 3 words?

Trustworthy, Resourceful, Hardworking.