Aspatria Farmers has announced the appointment of Clare Sowerby as its new Chair, marking a significant milestone in the cooperative’s history as the first woman to take on the role.
Clare was elected at the Board Meeting on 23rd April and succeeds William Graham, who has served as Chair since 2019. William has been involved with Aspatria Farmers for more than 40 years and will remain on the Board to help ensure a smooth transition.
A chartered accountant and tax advisor by trade, Clare comes from a farming background and has close ties to the local agricultural community. Her family farmed at Prospect, just outside Aspatria, for many years, and the family continues to farm on a smaller scale today. Clare joined the Aspatria Farmers Board in 2018.
Speaking about her appointment, Clare Sowerby said:
“I’m proud to take on the role of Chair at Aspatria Farmers and to represent a business with such a long history of supporting the farming community. Coming from a farming background, I understand both the challenges and resilience within the industry and the importance of having trusted support around farm businesses. Aspatria Farmers has built a strong reputation for providing practical advice, quality service and a cooperative approach, and I’m looking forward to helping build on that in the years ahead. At a time when margins remain under pressure, it’s more important than ever that we continue delivering real value and support to our members across the region.”
Chief Executive Ian Buchanan welcomed the appointment and said Clare’s experience and understanding of the industry would help support the continued growth and development of the cooperative.
“Clare brings a strong combination of professional experience, local knowledge and understanding of the agricultural industry to the role. Having served on the Board since 2018, she already has a strong understanding of both the business and the needs of our members.
We’re delighted to welcome Clare as Chair and look forward to working with her as Aspatria Farmers continues to evolve and support farmers across Cumbria, southwest Scotland and the north of England.”
Aspatria Farmers is the UK’s longest established farmer-owned cooperative, supporting members across feed, animal health, machinery, dairy, agronomy and retail services. The business continues to focus on providing practical support and value to farmers across the region.
