Sam and Samantha Edwards started with a small project involving a few ewes in pony paddocks in west Dorset in 2020. Within four years, they have grown their livestock business to 900 ewes, despite not having a farm tenancy and relying on temporary grazing licences. The couple frequently travel around with their toddler in tow to tend to their animals.
Grazing licences are short-term agreements that permit livestock owners to graze on another person’s land. The Edwards reached agreements with several owners of permanent pasture land and were only able to expand their operation after securing grazing of winter cover crops on arable farms. “That helped the business to grow because we had a lot more winter food,” explained Samantha.
The couple, who live in Cerne Abbas, had full-time jobs at the start but have since gone part-time. They stated how they must ensure one of them is always around to handle any issues the sheep might cause on any given day. They are both determined to make their business successful to the point where they don’t need to work two jobs anymore. However, because of their busy schedule, they rarely get the opportunity to go away.
Their hard work and dedication won them the New Entrant Award: Against the Odds at the British Farming Awards in Birmingham. “We are absolutely gobsmacked,” said Samantha “we didn’t expect to win it at all because a lot of the time we think we are raving mad for running around like we do.”
While the couple hopes to one day secure a proper farm tenancy, they would prefer not to leave Dorset due to family reasons and connections with their farming community. They want to have more security, as working off of grazing licences is challenging and they never know what will happen year to year. They must plan the sheep feed and make plenty of trips in trucks, which can be exhausting.
Overall, the couple’s business has grown significantly, and their hard work and resilience have paid off, as demonstrated by their recent award. They hope to continue expanding and eventually achieve their dream of obtaining their own farm tenancy
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