Fordhouse of Dun was originally owned by the Erskine family and was once part of the expansive
Dun Estates. The farm was leased in 1903 by William J. Reid - a keen breeder of Aberdeen
Angus cattle and Border Leicester sheep and a very successful producer of seed potatoes.
In 1920 he established an Aberdeen Angus herd which was to become one of the
country’s leading herds.

After his father’s death, W. F. Reid focused on Aberdeen Angus breeding,
with great success. The herd - which had an emphasis on strong, big
female breeding stock - won many prizes at shows and sales.
Aberdeen Angus bulls and heifers were sold to British farms
and countries throughout the world including Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Russia, USA,
Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

W. F. Reid bought Fordhouse in 1970 and established Fordhouse Farms Ltd. three years
later. He retired from active farming in the late 1970s, at which point his youngest son,
Alastair took the helm and decided to focus on cereals and seed potatoes. Meanwhile,
W.F. Reid’s eldest son, Graham now farms his own organic Aberdeen Angus herd at
Canterland Farm, near Marykirk.