Teulu Geirn Cefn Gwlad

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-This is Geirn Farm

-in Llannerch-y-medd.

-It's the home

-of Richard and Olwen Owen...

-..and two of their children...

-..their daughter, Cain,

-and youngest son, Cennydd.

-They have another son.

-I wonder if you can guess his name?

-He's called Richard.

-He's at Bangor University.

-This is a real family farm.

-Wherever you look, there's

-evidence of mutual effort...

-..and everything

-seems to be thriving.

-THE GEIRN FAMILY

-One of the first things you notice

-when you arrive at Geirn Farm...

-..is the flock of Zwartbles sheep.

-Olwen and Cain

-are specialists in this breed...

-..which originated

-in the Netherlands.

-They produce lots of milk

-and are very maternal.

-It's a very large flock.

-It's the biggest flock

-in the country.

-We bought them for the children,

-originally...

-..so they'd recognise them

-among the Border Leicesters.

-But the flock just grew.

-Cain, you take them

-to shows, don't you?

-Yes - I think it's important

-to promote the breed at local shows.

-We try to do as much as we can

-during the summer...

-..starting

-with the Royal Welsh Show...

-..followed by shows in Oswestry,

-Eglwys-bach and Llanrwst.

-I noticed, when you called to the

-sheep, you said, "Come on, Banana!"

-Is one of the sheep called Banana?

-Is one of the sheep called Banana?

-

-Yes!

-Do they all have names?

-Do they all have names?

-

-Some of them.

-You treat them

-the same as any other sheep.

-You have lots of sheep.

-These ones don't receive

-any special treatment.

-No, not at all -

-but they eat a lot.

-They need good pasture.

-But your efforts are rewarded.

-They're brought in for lambing but

-go outside immediately afterwards.

-Sheep need their freedom.

-Sheep need their freedom.

-

-Your ram has done well at shows.

-Yes, he's in this field.

-He's never failed to win.

-He's two years old.

-As a lamb, he won six first prizes

-in his classes...

-..and six championships.

-My daughter won't let me sell him.

-Won't you, Cain?

-Won't you, Cain?

-

-I don't regret it.

-I haven't been here long...

-..but I notice that mother

-and daughter are together...

-..and father and son.

-I'm sure everyone comes to Mam

-when they can't find what they want!

-Yes - "Mam!" -

-like every other family.

-Where do you buy and sell sheep?

-Can you sell these at any market?

-The most important sale

-for this breed is in Carlisle.

-It's a premier sale.

-They'll only accept sheep

-with the correct markings.

-There are also markets in Stirling,

-Worcester and Welshpool...

-..and we try to take a few sheep

-to each sale.

-Are markings important?

-White blazes on their heads,

-and so on.

-Markings are important,

-but a good sheep is a good sheep.

-If she has a black head, she's still

-a good sheep and worth keeping.

-She can still provide good meat

-for the butcher.

-They should have

-a white stripe down the face...

-..white socks on the hind legs,

-and a white tip on the tail.

-Cennydd and Cain have a keen

-interest in all types of animals.

-They include

-Geirn's numerous ducks and geese.

-These are not pet animals.

-The geese and some of the ducks

-are slaughtered for Christmas.

-Has this lake always been there?

-Yes - ever since I can remember.

-It's very convenient, Cennydd.

-Do you feed them,

-and shut them in at night?

-Yes, we don't want foxes

-taking them.

-And you feed them?

-I saw you earlier with Beltex sheep.

-You have lots of different breeds

-of sheep.

-The Beltex sheep are new, are they?

-Yes, Cennydd and I

-are interested in them.

-We'd been looking

-at Blue Texels too...

-..but we decided

-to go for Beltex sheep.

-We both like them, as a breed.

-We'll see how they come along.

-Who went with you to buy them?

-Taid and I went

-to Welshpool to buy four rams...

-..and we went to Carlisle

-to buy a further eight.

-There were two sheep that I liked,

-so I bought them.

-Then we went to Skipton

-and bought another four sheep.

-Did you go with them

-to all these places?

-I went to Skipton...

-..but Taid and Cennydd

-were in charge in Welshpool.

-Did they make good choices?

-Everyone has their own opinion.

-What ram will you use?

-I like one of the eight rams

-we bought in Carlisle.

-Taid and Cennydd like one the

-four rams they bought in Welshpool.

-We'll have to wait and see

-who wins that debate.

-I'd like to be a fly on the wall!

-You're busy trimming, I see.

-Is this for a special event?

-We have a sale and show

-on Saturday in Welshpool.

-It's a society sale.

-We want them to look their best.

-With some breeds,

-you don't trim them before a sale.

-It's amazing how trimming

-can improve a sheep's appearance.

-Yes, the change can be surprising.

-It takes 60 to 90 minutes

-to trim each sheep.

-We aim to trim them three times.

-And you two

-are responsible for trimming?

-That's right - the others are busy

-with harvesting and machinery.

-When did you start

-helping on the farm?

-Years ago!

-I started dabbling when Mam and Dad

-were doing their work.

-I started by trimming tails,

-and I'd make a complete mess of it!

-I'd just watch what they did as they

-prepared for the Royal Welsh Show.

-I observed what they did.

-When you were younger...

-..you were a keen member

-of the Young Farmers' Club.

-Yes, and I learnt a lot from it.

-I was a member for over ten years.

-It taught me a great deal.

-It's a really worthwhile

-organisation.

-Did it open many gates for you,

-in many different areas?

-Yes, and I made friends

-in all parts of Wales.

-It's amazing.

-Next year, you'll be president

-of the Anglesey Young Farmers' Club.

-I'm sure

-you're looking forward to it.

-Young people should be nurtured.

-They should enjoy

-the same advantages that we had...

-..whether it's to do

-with recitation, singing...

-..showing stock,

-or judging cattle, sheep or pigs.

-They need opportunities,

-so they can decide for themselves.

-Young people need to be nurtured.

-Three miles away, the family

-has created a new sheepfold...

-..for managing another flock.

-It's good to see parents

-and children working together.

-Richard Owen

-takes pride in this cooperation.

-We do everything together.

-Everyone knows their place

-and what to do.

-You're bringing in 500 sheep

-and everything's going smoothly.

-You have excellent facilities here.

-It's the first thing we did

-after buying the land.

-It makes the work a pleasure.

-It makes things easier.

-With both cattle and sheep.

-With both cattle and sheep.

-

-We haven't used it yet with cattle.

-We've been busy

-improving the hedges and fences.

-There'll be cattle here in spring.

-These sheep

-are two or three years old.

-Almost 500 of them.

-How many rams are there?

-A dozen.

-We've kept them all together.

-Good luck with lambing.

-There's plenty of raddle on them.

-We took the rams away two weeks ago.

-As you can see,

-most of the ewes have mated.

-We use teaser rams so that most

-of the ewes lamb at the same time.

-Today, you're marking the sheep.

-Did you put harnesses on the rams?

-We put raddle mixed with grease

-on the rams' chests.

-I apply the mixture

-with a wooden spoon.

-I'm not keen on harnesses or straps.

-They can cause sores.

-This method is better.

-I doubt if you have to use

-the wooden spoon very often.

-Things seem to work out well.

-You've spent a lot of money

-on fencing.

-Yes, though it wasn't too bad,

-previously.

-We've cut the hedges back.

-We filled in the ditch

-that ran along here...

-..cut the hedge back

-and erected a new fence.

-When did you buy these fields?

-We bought them two years ago,

-to next October.

-You have a system in place.

-You've improved the boundaries and

-built pens for managing the stock.

-These things

-should make your work easier.

-We intend to reseed some of these

-fields next spring, in May.

-We'll take it from there.

-The family also has another farm,

-Pencraigwen, to work.

-It's located near Llannerch-y-medd.

-This is the home

-of another Richard and his wife...

-..Richard's parents and Cennydd

-and Cain's grandparents.

-Well, Richard.

-This is one of the latest

-developments for managing land.

-It's quite a good machine.

-It's good for loosening the soil,

-and easy to use.

-It gets rid of surface water.

-It must be nice for you,

-as a grandfather...

-..to teach your grandchild.

-It isn't very difficult.

-On the tractor,

-he's like a fish in water.

-I'd say both of them

-are like fish in water!

-Yes - both have a keen interest.

-I'm sure you enjoy

-spending time in their company.

-Yes, I do.

-I'm fortunate.

-Four generations of farmers,

-if we include your father.

-Yes, including my father.

-Three of you are called Richard.

-Four of us - four Richards.

-Is this the family's original home?

-No, that's Geirn - I bought

-this farm after I got married.

-It's such a pleasure, to do the work

-you've been doing all your life.

-Yes, it's a great pleasure.

-You and your son

-are interested in the same things.

-To a certain degree.

-Your sheep and your cattle

-are a credit to you.

-I have much less work to do, now.

-I do what I can.

-It helps with the pension.

-Yes!

-You can live on less

-when you're older.

-Much less.

-Your money goes further.

-I enjoy watching the children grow.

-I enjoy watching the children grow.

-

-I'm sure.

-You're a lucky man.

-Yes, I am.

-It's good to see

-your grandchildren...

-..doing what the family has done

-for generations.

-It's something to treasure.

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-This is Ruthin mart.

-Judging by the vehicles, there'll be

-thousands of animals here today.

-Richard Owen and the Geirn family

-are on their way.

-They're hoping to buy ewes and rams,

-and they'll have plenty of choice.

-They're hoping for a bargain.

-AN AUCTIONEER SPEAKS RAPIDLY

-We'll pass on those.

-And those.

-They need some work.

-We're looking for a better shape.

-Are we sticking with Texel crosses?

-A good shape and a good size.

-These are quite good.

-They aren't bad.

-How old are they?.

-Two teeth.

-They're a good size, for yearlings.

-They're not too fat.

-You'll have to keep your eyes open

-for these.

-Richard has a lot of faith in

-Cennydd's ability to select sheep.

-They want the best,

-for the best price.

-They're seeking a price

-that suits the pocket.

-One twenty-six, twenty-six,

-any more bids?

-Cennydd is just 14 years old,

-but he knows what he's looking for.

-Buying is an important matter

-on market day.

-Well, Cennydd,

-you've bought a few sheep.

-Yes, 50 of them.

-Is that the number you wanted?

-Yes, they'll do for today.

-You make your mind up

-and you stick with your decision.

-Your mind's made up

-when you see something you like.

-The prices weren't excessive.

-The last lot you bought

-cost almost 150.

-Yes, but they should do well.

-They're ready for breeding.

-You'll turn them out

-with teaser rams, will you?

-Young people tend to believe it's no

-use thinking about becoming farmers.

-Evidently, you believe

-farming has a future.

-Congratulations -

-I admire your spirit.

-A successful day at Ruthin market

-for Cennydd and his father.

-The sheep will soon be on their way

-to Anglesey...

-..the land of the can-do people.

-In a day or two, Olwen will start

-creep feeding the lambs...

-..at Pencraigwen, Taid's home,

-near Llannerch-y-medd.

-You're using a modern system, Olwen.

-Yes - technology plays a large part

-in agriculture, these days.

-We have to move with the times.

-Though I still have uses

-for paper and pencil.

-Are these the young ewes

-that you bought in Ruthin?

-Yes, the ones Cennydd bought.

-They'll join

-the others on the register.

-Yes, on the computer.

-Do you employ someone

-to keep the accounts?

-Yes, but I'm responsible

-for all the paperwork.

-Do you send it on to an accountant?

-Do you send it on to an accountant?

-

-Yes.

-You take good care of the paperwork,

-as well as the animals.

-That's the way it has to be.

-Yes, you have to keep up.

-New technology

-should make things easier.

-These are the younger sheep.

-These are the younger sheep.

-

-Yes, they're yearlings.

-Sheep we've bought

-over the past three weeks.

-Cennydd has chosen well,

-he's bought similar types.

-They're very uniform - almost

-as if they're from the same flock.

-That's right.

-Dad has bought some, so have I,

-and so has Cennydd.

-As you can see, they match,

-they're the same type.

-You have to know your type.

-There are four Beltex rams

-that are eager to join the flock.

-I can see

-that you've included a few teasers.

-Is 'nychwyr'

-the correct Welsh word for teasers?

-They've been in for a fortnight.

-These rams will be taken out

-to join the flock on 1 October.

-Spring comes earlier in Geirn

-than it does in Pencraigwen.

-The family's system

-of lambing in January...

-..means that heifers and calves

-spend winter outside.

-Here's a herd of heifers

-to delight the eye.

-Yes, they're very nice.

-Most of them were bred

-from our own cows.

-Their sires are British Blue.

-I've also bought a few.

-It's what you want

-for breeding calves.

-Blue and Lim are ideal

-for cross-breeding.

-That's what most of these are.

-That's right.

-Blue cows are useful,

-they produce a good shape.

-The bull can't do everything.

-For me, shape is important.

-But black cows are less trouble

-when it comes to calving.

-Yes, calving is easier with Lims -

-the black cows.

-There's more room inside them,

-compared with Blue cows.

-That's the main difference

-between Blues, and black Lims.

-I can go to bed

-and leave a black cow to calve.

-I can't do that with the Blues.

-You have to stay with them

-and pay attention.

-These fields are expansive.

-Large fields are common in Anglesey.

-Yes, the land here in Anglesey

-can support a lot of stock.

-It's interesting to see

-how this family works together.

-The efforts and enthusiasm of the

-two children still living at home...

-..are a great comfort

-to Olwen and Richard.

-Tell me more about yourself, Cain.

-You've left school.

-Do you attend college?

-I left school last year.

-I'm in my first year at Coleg

-Glynllifon, studying agriculture.

-You have plenty of opportunities

-at home.

-Your standards are high, and you

-have a role in organising things.

-I try to help as much as I can.

-Good gracious.

-I've won the scholarship.

-Well done!

-Many congratulations!

-Well done!

-Well done -

-it's nice to share your good news!

-You were waiting to find out.

-Did you expect to succeed?

-Did you expect to succeed?

-

-No!

-I applied for a scholarship...

-..in order to do part of the course

-through the medium of Welsh.

-And I've succeeded.

-Proof that your background,

-working here with your parents...

-..and your grandparents -

-with your family...

-..gives you the benefit of several

-generations of farming experience.

-It's given you a good grounding.

-Yes, it's given me a good grounding.

-I've benefited from the good work

-of previous generations.

-I hope my brother and I

-can progress things further.

-Richard is evidently

-a popular name in the Owen family.

-Both the grandfather and the father

-share this name.

-Cain and Cennydd's older brother

-is also called Richard.

-I like your car!

-Thank you!

-You're at college

-in Bangor, aren't you?

-Very good.

-That's not too far from here.

-Yes, very handy.

-What are you studying?

-Business.

-First year or second year?

-First year or second year?

-

-First year.

-I'm sure you must be delighted

-to come home again.

-Yes, it's close enough.

-You brother and sister

-are very active on the farm.

-You're studying business at college.

-What were your main interests

-when you lived at home?

-I cooked a lot.

-Really?

-It's good to know

-that all three children...

-..have a keen interest

-in day-to-day work on the farm.

-Yes, it's good to know

-they're interested...

-..that this is what they want to do.

-It doesn't matter what they do,

-so long as they're happy.

-They pick things up

-from your father and from you.

-The tradition will continue.

-We hope we're doing

-the right things for them...

-..and that they'll progress.

-Richard, your other son,

-is just a stone's throw away.

-It's a good thing.

-He's happy in his own surroundings.

-He's happy in his own surroundings.

-

-Yes.

-Neither of the younger children

-can drive yet...

-..yet they talk about Carlisle

-as if it was just down the road!

-Look out, when they start driving!

-Armed with a cheque book,

-who knows what they'd do?!

-S4C Subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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