Farmers (and cows) from Stone will be at Tesco in Meir Park at the weekend to talk to shoppers about the food they produce.
Local farmers will be at Tesco in Meir Park on Friday 11th September from noon until 4pm, and on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September from 10am to 4pm.
They will be joined by the famous dairy cows from Aston Pool Farm in Stone – Cynthia and Wyman Cadet – who made headlines around the world recently when they were involved in a protest at Asda in Stafford. More about that HERE. Aston Pool Farm owner Matthew Weaver, and young workers Dan Weaver and Joel Hart, will be at the event.
Farmers will explain about where our food is produced and the effect low prices have on our rural economy. This event is not a demonstration or protest; it is designed to help educate and give the public an opportunity to speak directly to a farmer.
Organiser Kelly Shelley said: “I have had tremendous support from farmers who will be there on the day and they will be joined by representatives from the following companies and organisations, which include: machinery merchants, agricultural engineers, veterinary surgeons, agricultural and corn merchants, the National Farmers Union, Women’s Food and Farming Union, Ahbd representing dairy and the Red Tractor Farm and Food Assurance Scheme.”
Children from William Amory School, Blythe Bridge, will be helping out in the bakery at Tesco on Friday, learning the art of baking bread. During the weekend the children will also have an opportunity to meet the animals and have a go at milking the wooden cow and goat. Kate Hessian will be spinning a British fleece and will be supported by David and Karen from Griffiths Mill, who specialise in woollen products, from Sudbury. The spinners and weavers rely on the fleece provided by sheep farmers who often get paid less for the fleece than it costs to shear the sheep.
The ‘Ask the Farmer’ event has been organised by farmer’s daughter Kelly Shelley from Blythe Bridge, who has always worked on farms until the present crisis.
Unfortunately, she had to leave High Shutt Farm in Cheadle because the farmer, Malcolm Carnwell, could not afford to keep her on as his milk price continued to drop. When Kelly first started to work for Mr Carnwell in July 2012 he was receiving 26.87p per litre – he is now receiving 19p per litre. This means the milk is being produced at less than cost.
Despite Kelly’s college training, qualifications with a National Diploma in Agriculture and years of experience, she is struggling to find a secure job milking cows which is what she loves to do or work within the agricultural industry.
Kelly said: “I am passionate about the use of British food and feel it’s so important to link the producer with the consumer, so people understand where their food comes from and where it is grown. I had no choice but to find a new job and I now work afternoons and evenings in a local factory. This is not me at all but, I need to work and it gives me an opportunity to talk to my colleagues about food and its importance.
“The general misinformation astounded me and the lack of understanding on how farmers are paid. So I decided to ask my local supermarket Tesco to support my effort to educate the general public about our food chain, along with the value of buying British food and produce grown locally.”
Kelly is married to Ken, who also works on a farm. Their two young boys – Aaron, 10, and Callum, eight – both want to farm when they’re older.
She added: “The sad thing is that every job lost in agriculture, like mine, has a knock-on effect within the rural community, from the local vet, the corn merchants, fuel suppliers, the village shop and pub, this means that our local economy is suffering. So we need to ensure we work hard to spread the message to everyone to support British produce and look for the red tractor logo when shopping.”
