Return to the Ram Sale
18th September 2024
September can only mean one thing for Meinir and Gary Howells. Tup Sales!
It’s where their personal journey began, having met there for the first time, as little more than children! Gary was selling Texels and Meinir her beloved Balwens. Meinir says: “Gary and I have been sellling at the NSA since we were about 10 years old, Gary with his Texels and me with my Balwens.
“This is actually where we met for the first time. It was always the big one, teachers knew we wouldn’t be in school that day, and it would be one of the first appointments we would put in the diary. “Sioned our daughter, came to Builth Early sale to sell tups at just 7 days old!
We sell around 100 - 150 tups every year, from Texels, to Blueface x Texel, Blueface to Charollais x and Suffolk x, not forgetting the Balwens.” When Covid hit and the NSA Main Sale was cancelled, the couple were forced to sell their 170 tups from home. It was a big decision and there were lots of sleepless nights, but it went ahead, and they felt it worked well. After investing in the ring, and with all the infrastructure set up, they continued to hold on farm sales for another four years. The initiative was extremely successful, but the workload was ‘crazy with most of the summer spent preparing the place!
Meinir says: “It was like holding a wedding on the farm for the last four years! It was great, but I must admit it's been much easier this year just concentrating on the rams, and taking them to Builth to the NSA! “No pressure washing, No painting, No setting up the pens…. Just loading them on the lorry and head for Builth. “It's a top day out, and a great way to catch up with friends new and old. The NSA Wales & Border Ram Sale draws people there from all over – from the top of Scotland down to the south of England.
“There’s something there for everyone, and you can do all your tup shopping in one place. The quality of tups that go there is exceptional, improving year on year, and the social aspect is second to none.” This year the family will be bringing 45 tups in two lots. They are nearly first in the Clee Tompkinson ring and they have the most in the Hexham ring.
