The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2014 - Issue 35 | Page 49

ROGER HILDRETH come to. I went with a dairy farmer colleague and we came away happier that they were going to do something about it and they did. I don’t whinge when the job is good, only when it’s not. I think people respect that.” Roger is a past recipient of ASDA’s Dairy Farmer of the Year award and with other ASDA dairy farmers, has travelled to America to study the benefit of sandbed cubicles. SANDBED CUBICLES WORKING WELL “We started installing them here at Curlew Fields last summer. They offer better mastitis resistance, greater cow comfort and increased cleanliness. They’re working well.” He’s also looking forward to another development with ARLA. “ARLA AMBA have offered British dairy farmers the chance to join them and be farmer-owners. In two years’ time we will become full members and that will be our first opportunity to be part of a true co-operative. It will put us on equal terms with the Danes, Swedes, Germans and more recently, with our Dutch colleagues.” Roger’s grandfather, Francis, had Dairy Shorthorns but his father Frank changed over to Friesians in 1962 before latterly moving on to Holsteins in the 1980s. Roger attended Askham Bryan College on day release and was a member of Wetherby YFC. His brother pursued a career in joinery. Roger married Judith in 1990. Judith is also from a family farm near Northallerton. The couple have four children: Tom the eldest, and two other sons, Daniel, who is studying agriculture at Harper Adams; Matthew at York College studying backstage arts; and daughter Georgina who has recently completed her GCSEs. Earlier this year the Hildreths took part in Open Farm Sunday to great success. It was the second time they had done so. “It’s proving very popular and many of our neighbouring farmers also get involved. ‘proving very popular’ We’ll have it back here another year and help our neighbours in the meantime. The public really enjoy seeing what we all do and we have to thank the members of Boroughbridge YFC for all their invaluable assistance on the day. We also raised much-needed funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.” Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart Ltd LEEDS ROAD, OTLEY, LS21 3BD We are pleased to be associated with R F & J Hildreth of Curlew Fields Farm, Hessay, York and wish them continued success. SEE YOUR STOCK SOLD AND COLLECT YOUR PAY ON THE SAME DAY AT OUR “FRIENDLY” YORKSHIRE LIVESTOCK MART MONDAYS (Weekly from 9.30am) Prime Pigs and Sheep, Cull and Prime Cattle. THURSDAYS (Aug - Nov at 11.30am) Special Sales of Breeding & Store Sheep FRIDAYS (Fortnightly from 10.45am) Store Sheep & Pigs, Dairy Cattle, Calves & Stirks, Feeding Bulls, Breeding & Store Cattle SATURDAY 11th October 2014 at 11am Special Sale of Roses, Fruit Trees, Bulbs, Shrubs & Conifers, etc for a Market Gardener from Wisbech SATURDAYS (Monthly) Farm Equip, Machinery, Tools & Sundries at 10am and Fur & Feather sold at 12noon Also bi-monthly Sales of Horse Tack (next Sale - Sat 1st Nov 2014 at 1pm) Vintage Equip & Machinery (next Sale - Sat 4th Oct 2014 at 1pm) ON-FARM SALES, LAND & PROPERTY SALES, VALUATIONS AND CLAIMS CONDUCTED Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Ian Smith FdSc FLAA (Market Manager): 07738 043771 www.wharfedale-farmers.co.uk email: [email protected] To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk FarmersMart Aug/Sep 2014 49