The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2019 - Issue 62 | Page 62

62 CROFTBANK FARM APR/MAY 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk N | B| r |a|m|a| l | l | & | S |o| n | L| t |d |. British Beef / Lamb / Pork We are pleased to be associated with Gerrad Farmer of Croft Bank Farm and farm shop and wish them continued success for the future Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] The Abattoir, Near Coates Farm, Coates Lane, Oxspring, Nr Sheffield, S36 8YB ‘ We’ve used the shows as our shop window to other Red Poll breeders and we’ve helped out lots of people new to the breed with their foundation stock as we generally have an annual surplus ’ J C B UILDINGS D ONCASTER As a well established company we offer all aspects of agricultural buildings. Free standing buildings, side extensions, end extensions ect. All Buildings CE Marked Proud to be associated with Gerrad Farmer and wish him continued success FOR A REALISTIC QUOTE PLEASE CALL JULIAN ON 07817 618959 | TEL/FAX [phone] | Email [email protected] We also specialize in stripping old roofs, recladding and complete refurbishment of old buildings ‘Our lives gravitate around Land Rovers, Range Rovers and everything countryside oriented,’ says Gerrad. ‘Everything we do is interlinked. We have seven horses, all hunters. I enjoy shooting, hunting and rugby union.’ ‘I never had a plan when I started with the Red Polls, but what happens is when you start breeding cattle everything multi- plies over the years and you have to start doing something with them and acquire more land. We had the opportunity to buy the 25 acres we now have here at Croftbank and we’ve up to 125 acres rented all around Westwoodside and the Isle of Axholme area. We’ve invested in machinery from having started without a tractor.’ ‘We’ve used the shows as our shop win- dow to other Red Poll breeders and we’ve helped out lots of people new to the breed with their foundation stock as we generally have an annual surplus. We sell to other fellow breeders, or as stores or for meat and keep what we consider to be the best progeny for our own breeding. We’ve also found the Aberdeen Angus bull on to Red Poll cows make really good suckler cows and put more beef into them.’ Gerrad and Verita started marketing their Red Poll beef as boxed beef having bought a fridge van and touring the villages; their next move was farmers markets such as Humber Bridge and for the past two years their Farmers Farm Shop that is growing in popularity as a butcher’s shop, local produce shop, coffee shop and steakhouse with regular well patronised steak nights and Sunday carvery. ‘Everything we sell and serve is about local produce and native breed beef, pork and lamb. It’s all about quality and provenance. Our customers all say they can taste the difference and that is what is bringing more through word of mouth. It’s important to tune in to what people want and there is de- mand for quality food where you know the animals have been cared for and have led happy lives. We use good traditional whole- sale butchers too – Mountfield in Bubwith and Bramall in Penistone – and have a great team of four in the butchery and farm shop. We are aiming to keep current and give peo- ple reasons to come. Business is all about keeping in front of it all.’ Gerrad’s granddad, his mum’s dad Geoff Turner, farmed at Brockholes Farm in Branton that is today the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Having been brought up initially in Epworth and having emigrated to New Zealand he came back when he was 16 with his mum Catherine and his brother. Having started as an apprentice at a Skoda garage in Thorne he discovered he was adept at car sales. He bought his own little garage in Westwoodside 20 years ago that is today the successful Maltings Off Road business. The cattle and the Farmers Farm Shop are now adding to their business success. The shop currently opens Thursday to Sunday and the fortnightly steak nights are a must. ‘What really pleases me is the amount of farmers who come. That means such a lot to us both.’