A Cumbrian award has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.
Joe Bowman, of Harrison & Hetherington, is a finalist in New Auctioneer of the Year category at the 2024 Mart’s The Heart Awards.
It marks a significant milestone in Joe’s career.
At just 30 years old, Joe, who hails from Brampton Fell Farm, has already made a name for himself in the auctioneering world.
Raised on a 500-acre mixed farm by his parents, Alan and Val, Joe has been deeply involved in farming from a young age. The family farm is home to 450 Swaledale ewes, which are bred to produce North of England Mule lambs, and 30 Limousin Cross Cows, which they bull with Aberdeen Angus, and sell the calves at 24 months old in the store ring.
Joe’s journey into auctioneering began in August 2015, when he started working as a yard drover at Harrison & Hetherington.
After completing his studies at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith, Joe applied to join the auctioneer training program at Harrison & Hetherington.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, he successfully completed his training and is now a fully qualified auctioneer.
Joe said: “I was fairly shocked and taken aback when I found out. Working with Harrison & Hetherington means you’re working with the best in the industry, and to be recognised as part of that is truly special. Winning would be amazing, but I’m just happy to have been nominated.”
Joe’s first auctioneering experience was in September 2016 when he sold a trio of chickens for £45 at a poultry sale.
Since then, he has taken on significant responsibilities, managing all breeding sheep and store sales at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, as well as sales in Lazonby and Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Joe’s achievements include breaking records in 2022, selling a Blue Texel Gimmer for 20,000 guineas in Carlisle and a British Blue Heifer for £8,500 in Middleton-in-Teesdale. He also set a new centre record for a pen of gimmers at Lazonby, selling them at £800 each.
“The highlight of my career so far has been getting the opportunity to sell at the Alston Moor Gimmer sale in 2021,” Joe said. “It’s a sale I grew up with, and my family has been selling sheep there for 80 years. It was a real ‘I’ve made it’ moment.”
Joe expressed his gratitude to his colleagues, especially James Little, Grant Anderson, and Scott Donaldson, for their support throughout his journey and for David Pritchard who gave him his first job and supported his career in the early years.
He also thanked his parents for their unwavering encouragement and his wife, Stephanie, for being there to celebrate with him on the good days, and for her understanding and support on the bad days.
The Mart’s The Heart Awards, now in their ninth year, were in 2015 to recognise the vital role auction marts play in the livestock industry.
To vote for Joe, visit www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/britishfarmingawards/en/page/marts-the-heart-awards-2024
