OUR FARMERS
Meet the Farmers
Because we want you to be as passionate about our produce as we are, and because we have nothing to hide, we’d like you to tell you about a couple of the farmers who raise Three Dales meat:
Mark and Willie Keighley
Mark Keighley and his father Willie farm along the banks of the River Wharfe at Pool-in-Wharfedale. This farmland affords picture-postcard views of Almscliffe Cragg and The Arthington Viaduct.
Willie settled in Pool in 1965 and since then they have built up a prize winning flock of 150 pedigree Texel ewes, as well as a beef suckler herd of Limousin, Belgian Blue and Friesian crosses. From their farm they supply all of their lambs and about half of the cattle they raise to Three Dales.
The Keighley’s livestock are fed predominantly on grass and silage. Winter supplements consist of concentrated feeds, made from traceable ingredients, produced by a local supplier.
They know how vitally important it is that traditional farming continues in the area in order to maintain the character of the local landscape: “Land soon gets overgrown if it isn’t in production – it’s surprising,” said Mark. “By buying local food consumers can help to support the farming activity that keeps the countryside in good condition”.
The farm has a strong relationship with Agars, developed over many years. “We really don’t want to sell our stock anywhere else – Agars know what we send them will be good and in return they pay decent prices,” said Mark.
