Derbyshire Farmer Presented with Holstein UK Lifetime Achievement Award - Cowsmo

Derbyshire Farmer Presented with Holstein UK Lifetime Achievement Award

The Holstein UK Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Holstein UK Board of Trustees to recognise at least twenty years of dedication and service to the Holstein and/or British Friesian breeds. Awarded annually, the award is the ultimate accolade for an individual who has unassumingly provided outstanding service to the breed and made a remarkable contribution to the Society.

The Trustees are delighted to present the 2021 Lifetime Achievement to Bill Nadin of Sterndale Holsteins, based in Derbyshire. Having left school at 15 to work on his uncle’s dairy farm at Earlsterndale, Bill quickly acquired a passion for dairy cows and after a short period, he took on the farm tenancy. In 1969, Bill purchased his first pedigree cow for 39gns before grading his herd up to pedigree.

Bill has always been rewarded and respected for his attention to detail in animal husbandry, grassland management and the breeding of Holstein cows. In 1985, Bill was awarded the prestigious Dairy Farmer of the Year Award, coming out on top from over 100 entrants from across the UK and Ireland. Having won the regional round of the Premier Herd Competition in 2013, Bill went on to take the title of National Premier Herd Champion, recognising his herd for achieving the very best breeding status.

Bill has spent many years developing the Sterndale herd and made frequent trips to Canada and the United States to source new cow families, along with investing heavily in UK genetics. Over the years, Bill has had a number of reduction sales and in 2003, he achieved the highest price ever paid at auction for a cow in milk with Field of Dreams Formation Erle selling for 76,000gns. Bill always takes great satisfaction in seeing and hearing how these animals have developed in their new homes and he takes great delight at seeing animals that he’s bred doing well in the showring. One of the most notable animals owned by his partner Yasmin Bradbury was Peak Goldwyn Rhapsody EX97. Over her lifetime, the Goldwyn daughter produced 133,000kg milk and won eight national titles.

Having been an active member of Derbyshire Holstein Club for many years, Bill and Yasmin have always been willing to assist the Club with stock judging and herd visits, as well as encouraging and supporting the Club’s young breeders over the years. Through the triumph of the Sterndale calves, the Club have received great success at both local and national events, along with numerous All Britain nominations.

Despite a decline in health in recent years, Bill’s passion for the Holstein breed has never faded and at the National Holstein Show in 2018, Bill was recognised, along with Yasmin, by the Holstein UK Show & Sale Committee for making a significant difference to others through constant support and encouragement, resulting in him being presented with the highly acclaimed Howard Sneesby Award. In the same year, Bill was also awarded a Holstein UK Master Breeder Award for Sterndale’s impressive standard in both classification and production.

Michael Smale, Chairman of Holstein UK concludes; “It brings me great joy to congratulate Bill Nadin on this wonderful achievement. He spent many years building one of the UK’s most renowned herds and over his lifetime, he has contributed greatly to the Society and the Holstein breed. His passion, knowledge and dedication of the breed is outstanding and I look forward to the award being presented at the Holstein UK AGM in July 2022.”

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