Leader in the limelight: Sarah Bell

Sarah Bell

Sarah farms with her husband and parents in Rutland; they have a mixed farming operation spanning cereals, beef and sheep. Sarah has also developed three fully accessible holiday cottages on the farm since returning to the business in 2017.

Sarah is a passionate advocate for agriculture, especially retaining value on farms, and sits on the NFU council.

Let’s get to know Sarah a bit more

What’s the best advice you have ever received?
Speak your own truth, with care and integrity.

What was the best decision you ever made?
Leaving a ‘proper job’ and going freelance as a bridge back to the family farm.

Who do you admire most and why?
There are so many great people and picking one does others a disservice. But the traits of great people are integrity, humility, kindness and humour – we are blessed in agriculture that we have a lot of people with those traits who are very generous with their time.

What is your biggest regret?
I always regret not trusting my gut – very often when there has been a good opportunity but at the wrong moment, I have taken it, in spite of my better judgement.

What has been the highlight of the year to date?
There haven’t been any giant highlights. I am always grateful for the things that ‘just work’, especially relationships – personal and professional – as well as the moments nature gives us, which make farming worthwhile. I am all about the little wins.

What keeps you awake at night?
The same things as all farmers – pushing the business on and insulating it against poor policy, the weather and working out how to survive everything the universe throws at what ought to be a relatively simple job.

What’s been the best AgriLeader activity you’ve participated in?
The AgriLeader Forum – I came away inspired.

What one item (other than a spouse, child or pet) would you rescue from the flames?
It’s boring, but probably documents – everything else is ‘stuff’, most of which I could live without short term.

When or where do you get your best ideas?
Usually when I am walking the dogs or lying awake at 4:00am chewing through a problem.

What superpower would you choose?
To remember the things I need to and forget the rest.

I am dyslexic – I consider that to be my actual superpower.