Phil Stocker: The Shepherd of Britain’s Sheep Industry
Phil Stocker, the indefatigable Chief Executive of the National Sheep Association (NSA), is more than just a leader—he’s a visionary who has spent over four decades weaving together the threads of farming, environmental stewardship, and advocacy for Britain’s sheep farmers. From the urban streets of Bristol to the windswept hills of Dartmoor, his life is a testament to grit, adaptability, and an unshakable love for the land and its livestock. Today, as he steers the NSA through turbulent times, Stocker stands as a towering figure in UK agriculture, blending practical wisdom with a forward-thinking ethos.
Roots in the City, Heart in the Countryside
Born and raised in Bristol, Phil Stocker didn’t grow up surrounded by bleating sheep or sprawling pastures. His early years unfolded in an urban landscape, far removed from the muddy fields that would later define his life. Yet, the call of the countryside was never far away, thanks to family ties to a livestock farm in Wales. Summers spent among the rugged hills and hardy flocks ignited a spark in young Phil—a fascination with farming that refused to fade. It was here, amid the rhythm of rural life, that he caught what he calls the “farming bug,” a passion that would shape his destiny.
Leaving school at 16, Phil didn’t follow the conventional path of higher education. Instead, he dove headfirst into the world of agriculture with an apprenticeship on a mixed farm. This hands-on start was his true classroom, where he learned the ropes of tending livestock and mastering farm machinery. He bolstered his practical know-how with a National Diploma in Agriculture and a qualification in farm mechanization from Lackham College in Wiltshire. These early years weren’t glamorous—think long hours, calloused hands, and the occasional stubborn tractor—but they forged the foundation of a man who would one day champion an entire industry.
A Farmer’s Life: From Machines to Ewes
Phil’s career took him across England’s patchwork countryside, each role adding a new layer to his expertise. He worked as a machine driver and farm mechanic, skills that kept him grounded in the nuts and bolts of farming. But livestock soon beckoned, pulling him back to his first love. In North Wiltshire, he took on the role of farm manager, overseeing a pedigree British Blonde cattle herd and an arable rotation. It was here that Phil and his wife, Maxine, planted the seeds of their own sheep enterprise, buying draft Beulah Speckled Face ewes and crossing them with Suffolk rams. The venture thrived on lower ground, proving Phil’s knack for turning vision into reality.
Later, the couple embraced a farming partnership in Somerset, managing 120 acres of arable land and a flock of 500 breeding ewes. For eight years, they poured their hearts into the soil and the sheep, building a life rooted in hard work and harmony with nature. But Phil’s curiosity and restless spirit wouldn’t let him settle. A brief stint with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in East Anglia saw him organizing livestock grazing agreements, blending farming with environmental goals. It was a taste of something bigger—a glimpse of how agriculture could coexist with the wild.
A Shift to Influence: Soil Association and Beyond
The late 1990s brought upheaval when a Gloucestershire estate job ended abruptly with a BSE-related cattle cull. Undeterred, Phil pivoted to a new chapter, joining the Soil Association in 1997. Over 15 years, he rose from an organic conversion advisor to Director of Farmer and Grower Operations, guiding conventional farmers into the organic fold. His tenure bridged two worlds—organic and mainstream agriculture—arming him with a rare perspective on the industry’s divides and potential unity. By 2011, though, Phil craved a broader stage. The organic sector felt like an echo chamber, and he yearned to amplify the voices of all farmers, not just a niche.
That’s when the National Sheep Association came calling. Appointed Chief Executive in November 2011, succeeding Peter Morris, Phil stepped into a role that would test every ounce of his experience. The NSA, a membership body representing UK sheep producers, was poised for change, and Phil was the man to lead it. His arrival predated Brexit and the climate crisis’s rise to prominence—challenges no one could have foreseen. Yet, with a farmer’s pragmatism and a strategist’s foresight, he embraced the unknown.
Leading the Flock: A Decade of Transformation
Phil Stocker’s tenure at the NSA has been a masterclass in leadership through chaos. Over 13 years (as of 2025), he’s navigated the sheep sector through Brexit’s trade upheavals, environmental policy shifts, and economic uncertainty. His vision? A forward-thinking industry that honors its traditions while embracing sustainability. He’s lobbied Westminster with ferocity, ensuring sheep farmers aren’t sidelined in trade deals with giants like New Zealand and Australia. “Sheep farming must not become a sacrificial lamb,” he warned the International Trade Select Committee in 2020, a rallying cry that still echoes.
From the avian influenza crisis to debates over farm assurance schemes like Red Tractor, Phil has been a steady hand. His bold challenge to Red Tractor’s leadership in 2023—threatening a vote of no confidence—spurred a UK-wide review, hailed as a “huge victory” for farmers. He’s championed practical solutions, like sustainable wool insulation to tackle climate change, and fought for recognition of sheep’s role in biodiversity and carbon storage. His mantra: farming isn’t just about food—it’s about culture, heritage, and the landscape millions cherish.
In 2024, Phil’s influence expanded when Defra tapped him as the first independent chair of the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group. Tasked with balancing farming, nature, and climate goals on this iconic moorland, he’s proving once again his ability to unite diverse interests. Tenant farmers like Helen Radmore call his appointment “inspired,” a nod to the trust he’s earned across the board.
Honors and Legacy
Phil’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2017, he was named an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies for his outstanding impact on agriculture. The 2022 British Farming Awards crowned him with the Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture, celebrating a decade of leadership. At home in Worcestershire, he and Maxine tend a small flock of Ryland and Shropshire sheep, passing the farming bug to their four grandsons—two of whom got Ryland ewes as Christmas gifts.
Phil Stocker is a rare breed: a man who’s toiled in the fields, shaped policy in boardrooms, and never lost sight of the sheep at the heart of it all. As he leads the NSA into an uncertain future, his story inspires—a reminder that one person, armed with passion and purpose, can move mountains—or at least a million ewes.