There are a few families who “promote” the Guernsey to the consumer and whose efforts go largely unrecognised as they have entered the “commercial” arena and as such that is considered to be sufficient reward.
The rest of us should be grateful for without their efforts our cow would be invisible, the summer shows that were once considered to be the shop window are struggling to get entries with the honourable exception of the Royal Cornwall. The Norfolk show classes were cancelled for the first time this year, there have been no Competitive Guernsey classes at the Three Counties for probably the last 10 years and of course the Royal Show has disappeared completely.
The Jones family from Yew Tree Farm, Garway Common in Hereford were at the Three Counties Show selling Ice Cream from their Kelsmor Guernsey herd and it is 10 years ago that they watched from their hilltop farm as Foot & Mouth approached inexorably and took all of their original herd. Within a week Mark was on the phone stating that as soon as DEFRA would allow they wanted to restart with Guernseys and what was available. I was able to put them in touch with the Emm family in Dorset where Tom and Barbara had developed the Kelsmor herd into one of the best in the breed and more importantly had tirelessly promoted the Guernsey cow across the South West and further afield.
A deal was done and also the Emm’s graciously agreed to transfer the prefix and so the Kelsmor cow families continue to prosper with the Meadowsweets recently recording the 500th female in that family. Mark and Susan have diversified into Ice Cream but also take some of the bull calves through to Beef and sell mainly at Farmers Markets and at Shows and with elder son Matt now at home have two vans out on the road with their distinctive livery promoting the Guernsey cow.
The Jones family were placed as runners up in the trade stand classes at the Three Counties Show behind the famous Neals Yard Cheese Company who also have their roots in Hereford, congratulations and thanks to them.
Matt Jones is also an accomplished photographer as witnessed by the promotional picture genourously given to me for EGCS use last autumn.
Jason and Katherine Salisbury of Suffolk Farmhouse Cheese are another enterprising couple and did have Guernseys at the Suffolk Show recently competing in the AOB classes, but recently “entertained 1200 people on the farm at Creeting St Mary as part of Open Farm Sunday. Jason describes the day as exhausting but very worthwhile.
Andrew and Sue Hope are also flying the Guernsey flag through sales of cheese and yoghurt from theirTiresford herd and are hoping to increase Guernsey numbers shortly. Andrew is about to start supplying a school for Children with Special needs in the area with a full range of Guernsey products and is hosting a series of regular visits to the farm by the pupils and staff.
Dave and Rosie Paull, Hurdlebrook, in Somerset have just started their summer programme of using their Guernsey cows as the centre piece of the “Village Green” at the Bath & West, where three cows are milked in front of the public and the realities of dairy farming are explained to a genuinely interested audience.
Meanwhile hidden away on Alderney Mike and Clare Cox, Kiln Farm, have just done a deal with a visiting Cruise ship that on the next visit to Alderney the Chef will stock up with enough meat, butter, cream, ice cream to serve a couple of meals to the ships passengers of “Alderney” produce.
All of these families are to be thanked for keeping the Guernsey in public view.