Ann Orr who receives the BEM in the New Year Honours for services to the agriculture industry and the rural community, has been involved in showcasing agriculture since leaving school.
“At first I was really happy but then shocked. I was overwhelmed with the messages I received,” she said.
As a member of Garvary YFC, she represented the YFCU movement on Fermanagh County Show committee in the 1970’s, then taking up the position of Show Secretary between 1998 and 2003. She stood down from that position to continue her role as co-ordinator of the Women in Agriculture Programme which operated across Fermanagh from 1999 until 2011 but also served as Vice-Chairman and trade stand steward of the Show. The WIA programme produced a model for farm family women which was adopted in Italy and is still going. It also empowered local people to set up new rural businesses and introduced many farm women to new skills.
The WIA programme won one of the top 25 awards in Europe for delivering Peace funding to local communities.
Ann was appointed Show Manager in 2011 and the Show has continued to flourish since. 
Ann’s other interests are linked by the countryside and local history, with her involvement in the Northern Ireland Shows Association, Irish Shows Association, Topped Mountain Historical Society and her beloved Coolbuck Church. She is also a governor of Lisbellaw Primary School, a post she has held for many years.
Ann has just stepped down as secretary of the Northern Ireland Charolais Club but continues as secretary of the successful Pedigree Beef Calf Fair and Beef Expo which has just ended its second annual event.
Ann and her husband, Raymond have two children; Lyndsey, a HR Manager in Cardiff and Andrew, at Queen’s University, Belfast.