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John and David make a great team , supported by the staff of twelve .
I asked John how such a small team can manage so much . John said , “ That ’ s it , we are a team here , everyone gets stuck in and are always keen to learn , including David and myself .” John not only looks after the staff but their families as well , he appreciates the support families have to give when family members are working into the night , on call at lambing and calving time and on emergency call 24 / 7 , particularly in winter . John plans to build more cottages at Longwitton to provide further accommodation for the staff . Most Fridays , the staff , John and David get together for a well-earned beer at the farm . They always have a barbeque for the staff and families after lambing and there is a big Christmas celebration as well . John firmly believes in encouraging and developing youngsters . He has taken two apprentices on full time and has one on apprenticeship now , as well as 17-year-old Callum who is still at college and the newest member of the team .
Before we looked further into today ’ s Goodfellow Farming , I was very keen to learn about how the business started .
Hill Farm was rented by John ’ s father , also called John , and Mother Elizabeth in 1969 . John ’ s father was both ambitious and very astute and one of the first farmers to see the opportunity in diversification , often seizing opportunities as they presented themselves , including investing in the local pub and a haulage business , both turning a handsome profit when they were sold . However , the early years were tough , often they lived off the rent from the cottages .
John Snr believed in investment and as Hill Farm got stronger , he ploughed a lot of money back into developing the farm and its facilities and buildings , including the cottages . They also expanded their
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land by taking two other tenancies at Stamfordham and Barrasford .
In 1981 a big opportunity came along when Longwitton became available for rent . It required a huge investment . Initially , John Snr looked at sharing the investment with two other partners , which made financial sense . However , having discussed the plan with his bank manager he came back and said he would back John Snr on his own ! This was a huge gesture of confidence and an opportunity to grow the business , whist importantly still keeping Hill Farm . As with Hill Farm , Longwitton was developed and improved with grants for new sheds , concrete and improving the arable performance of the farm .
John was just 8 years old when they moved to Longwitton . He loved to work on the farm , especially in the holidays .
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He went to prep school at Mowden Hall , then Sedbergh School , notably playing first team rugby for the school in the same team as World Cup winner Will Greenwood ! He then went on to do an Honours degree in agriculture at Newcastle University , his original plan being to become an engineer and then return to farming . However , John Snr persuaded him to come back to the farm as the business had flourished and developed further in the 90 ’ s and he needed to share the responsibility . John ’ s sister Susan loved the farm when growing up , however she studied at Keele University and became a solicitor .
John Snr , always being on the lookout for an opportunity and also in order to save as much tax as possible , came
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across another opportunity , but not a small one ! Otterburn Tower came up for sale . John Snr ’ s idea was to acquire it as a company pension which would save a fortune in tax . It was a massive project , as it was completely dilapidated and needed a complete refurb . With help from his accountant , they put a plan together to acquire the hotel which also had potential for 5 houses in the grounds !
It was a good job that John had joined the farm , as John Snr project managed the refurb into a 19 room luxury hotel in just 6 months ! The idea was to rent out the hotel , however the tenant didn ’ t work
Continued on page 32
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