Dei Everiss Cefn Gwlad

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-This is such a beautiful area.

-I'm in Llangernyw,

-visiting Ty Isa Gell Farm.

-It's the home of a man

-with a rather unusual name...

-..Dei Everiss.

-Dei works as a lamb grader

-at local livestock marts.

-He spends all day, every day,

-arguing with farmers...

-..when he marks down lambs

-that don't make the grade!

-Every evening, he returns home...

-..to this paradise.

-He certainly knows what

-today's markets are looking for.

-You can tell

-by the quality of his stock.

-I need to catch up with him -

-he's on a bike or in a van...

-..and Dai is on foot!

-The sun has come out.

-It'll be hot this afternoon.

-It'll be hot this afternoon.

-

-Yes, I'm sure it will.

-You have an unusual name - Everiss.

-Everiss, yes.

-I don't know where it comes from.

-I'm not interested in such things -

-I'm Everiss, that's that!

-Have you always lived locally?

-Yes, I was born and raised

-in Llangernyw.

-My uncle lived at Ty Isa Gell.

-When I left school,

-I came to work on the farm.

-Good gracious,

-these views are superb!

-Yes, they are.

-It's a lovely spot.

-Tell me about the area.

-There's Gwytherin,

-and Merddyn is on the hill.

-Hiraethog is over there.

-The Sportsman's Arms.

-Lower down, you have Bodfari.

-Lower down, you have Bodfari.

-

-I'm looking at the sheep.

-We're high above sea level.

-About 1,000 feet.

-About 1,000 feet.

-

-Really?

-You're fortunate -

-you have a decent patch of land.

-I have 75 acres, here.

-I also rent 12 acres in Llangernyw.

-There's plenty of good,

-healthy land for animals.

-Yes, there's good land

-around Llangernyw.

-Is this an area

-for hunting and pheasants?

-A lot of hunting takes place.

-We hunt all winter.

-We shoot pheasants.

-These are old traditions

-that you're keen to maintain.

-Some species must be controlled.

-It's no use buying expensive rams

-if foxes kill the lambs.

-No!

-No!

-

-They're your livelihood.

-You have quite a lot of land -

-you're a busy man...

-..you also work at the marts.

-It's a demanding job.

-That's right.

-It's an interesting job - I've

-learned a lot since I came here.

-You know exactly what type of lamb

-is in demand in the markets.

-That's your job.

-Shape is important.

-I like a good fleece -

-you can tell a lot by the fleece.

-It's nice that we can spare an hour

-of our day, just to stand here.

-It's wonderful.

-Wonderful.

-Wonderful.

-

-And peaceful.

-Yes, this is his paradise.

-His home is an ideal haven

-after a hard day's work...

-..in the markets of North Wales.

-They're completely different worlds.

-They're not bad, Dei.

-No, not bad.

-Is Beltex your preferred breed?

-Yes, increasingly so.

-Yes, increasingly so.

-

-Look at that one.

-I bought him last year in Bryncir.

-I bought him last year in Bryncir.

-

-Really?

-Being a grader must be useful

-when you're buying.

-Hindquarters are important.

-They're a good length, too.

-Where are you taking them?

-Where are you taking them?

-

-Into the field.

-Let's hope your lambs sell well -

-those rams cost a lot of money.

-Yes, indeed!

-It's hot again today.

-Terribly hot.

-Dei the grader is a busy man.

-Each morning, he exchanges the peace

-of his farm in Llangernyw...

-..for the hurly-burly

-of the markets of North Wales.

-It couldn't be any hotter

-if I were in Spain!

-I'm in the shadows of Cwm Pennant.

-This is Bryncir mart.

-Dei is grading lambs.

-They're arriving in their hundreds.

-On a busy morning, Dei assesses

-and grades hundreds of lambs.

-He's a master of his craft,

-making it all look so easy.

-He weighs them up quickly

-and casts a keen eye over them.

-His skills have been honed

-by years of experience.

-You get all kinds of breeds.

-Yes, all kinds of breeds.

-Yes, all kinds of breeds.

-

-Colours show up at once.

-Grading is vitally important.

-Yes, otherwise quality

-would be too variable.

-Feeding patterns change

-at this time of the year.

-Male lambs tend to lose weight

-at this time.

-There aren't so many Texels

-at this time of year.

-There are more speckled

-and Welsh Mountain sheep.

-Texels have done a lot

-to improve quality in lambs.

-Cross-breeding Texels with

-Welsh Mountain sheep works well.

-John Lloyd Williams is one of the

-senior auctioneers at Bryncir mart.

-He keeps order...

-..as lambs arrive from all parts

-of Arfon, Dwyfor and Llyn.

-They're nice lambs,

-with a touch of Texel.

-They've come from a farm

-that's close to Bardsey Island...

-..Gwyddel Farm in Uwchmynydd.

-They travel a fair distance.

-They travel a fair distance.

-

-It's a large catchment area.

-It includes Llyn,

-Caernarfon, Harlech...

-..and across

-the new Pont Briwet bridge.

-That's a bonus.

-There are all kinds of breeds.

-We get lots of Welsh Mountain sheep

-at this time of year.

-Some good cross-bred lambs too.

-There are customers for every type.

-Smaller Welsh lambs

-may not do so well.

-It's the time of year when

-older grass is getting sparse...

-..and it takes time for lambs

-to become used to fresh grass.

-Gaining weight

-becomes more difficult.

-August is the most difficult month,

-but things are getting better.

-Wednesday is the day for fat lambs.

-Wednesday is the day for fat lambs.

-

-Every Wednesday, yes.

-Do you have enough customers?

-Do you have enough customers?

-

-Yes, we're fortunate.

-Some customers have been with us

-since we started 15 years ago.

-You need the support

-of local farmers.

-Some of them are very interesting

-characters indeed.

-Tags generate

-a lot of extra work.

-Yes, indeed.

-It's a very boring job.

-Are you in charge of all this?

-No, just these three pens.

-I keep the wolf from the...

-I keep the wolf from the...

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-From the door?

-These sheep have grazed on Snowdon.

-Yes, I suppose.

-Some of them

-aren't carrying enough meat.

-That's where a grader is useful.

-That's where a grader is useful.

-

-Yes, and we have a good one.

-He knows his job.

-You have plenty to keep you busy.

-Gareth is quite particular,

-to be honest.

-He's more particular than I am.

-They're fine lambs, Dei.

-You've graded every single lamb.

-How many days a week do you work?

-How many days a week do you work?

-

-I'm in Mold on Mondays.

-Llanrwst on Tuesdays,

-and Gaerwen this afternoon.

-Graders are important figures

-in businesses like this one.

-Yes, and he's

-completely independent.

-He's not employed by the company.

-His job is maintaining standards

-for buyers.

-Abattoirs demand

-a certain type of lamb.

-They don't want underweight lambs.

-Dei helps maintain standards

-and consistency.

-He helps to maintain

-confidence among buyers, too.

-Yes, but he must also

-be sensitive to farmers.

-Farmers don't want their lambs

-marked down.

-But he knows how to deal with

-farmers and how to avoid trouble.

-What's your opinion of Dei Everiss?

-He's a fair man, it must be said.

-But you can't please everyone.

-Judging by the smile on his face,

-I don't think he's an angry type.

-I've never seen him angry!

-I can't tell you anything

-about that!

-He's a character,

-and he's easy to work with.

-He's very helpful.

-Yes, Dei Everiss is well-respected.

-Auctioneers and farmers appreciate

-the work of a good grader.

-What's the farmers' response?

-What's the farmers' response?

-

-Not bad.

-You're there to help them.

-You get the occasional crank,

-but not many.

-And you don't bark back at them!

-Unless I have to!

-You have to, sometimes!

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-Summer is turning into autumn.

-Yes, leaves are changing colour.

-What do you have in here?

-Are these the type of lambs

-you'd like to grade every week?

-I'd like lambs like this every week.

-Let's take a look.

-Colour can tell you a lot

-about a lamb.

-Yes.

-What do you look for in a lamb?

-What do you look for in a lamb?

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-They must carry plenty of meat.

-I like a good tail, too.

-Lots of the lambs that are brought

-to the mart are terribly lean.

-They're alright, but...

-..I like to see more meat on them.

-It's the type of thing

-that affects trade, isn't it?

-Sometimes, you have to accept lambs

-that aren't quite ready.

-Have they been fed on rape?

-Have they been fed on rape?

-

-No, just grass.

-The lambs that are more yellow

-in colour are ready to sell.

-Yes, they're the next to go.

-Fat lambs are a fine sight.

-Look at that width.

-It'll make a fine carcass.

-It'll make a fine carcass.

-

-Yes, indeed.

-Years ago, there'd be nothing

-but black-headed lambs in markets.

-They'd all have black heads.

-White heads are more common,

-nowadays.

-If the price is right,

-you'll make a fortune.

-Yes, we all need money.

-Yes, we all need money.

-

-I'll help you count it!

-HE WHISTLES

-That's what lambs should look like.

-Excellent!

-Although Dei Everiss

-is a sheep man...

-..he also keeps a herd

-of Welsh Black cattle.

-They're excellent cattle.

-They're excellent cattle.

-

-They're not bad.

-They're almost ready.

-Welsh Black cattle are rare in this

-area - where do you buy stock?

-In Dolgellau.

-It's rare to see them at sales -

-they're difficult to find.

-I thought you just kept sheep,

-but cattle help to fill the gap.

-I always keep 12 to 15 steers.

-But I prefer sheep.

-With sheep, you can do

-most of the work yourself.

-I do my own shearing.

-Really?

-Yes.

-It saves a little money.

-I was waiting for that!

-I have no interest in machinery.

-I'm just the same.

-I'm just the same.

-

-No interest at all.

-Give me four legs, not four wheels!

-Give me four legs, not four wheels!

-

-Yes, indeed!

-At Ty Isa Gell, Dei and his wife,

-Sian, have raised a family.

-Their daughters, Haf and Lowri,

-are the apple of his eye.

-I'm studying at Bangor University.

-I'm entering my third year.

-What subject - religion?

-No, criminology and sociology.

-What a contrast!

-What school do you go to?

-What school do you go to?

-

-Dyffryn Conwy.

-Do you know what you want to do?

-Not yet, I don't know.

-It's an ideal place to grow up -

-it's so quiet.

-Yes, I appreciate it much more,

-after living in Bangor.

-The peace and quiet is lovely.

-Who helps Dad most?

-We both help as necessary -

-we all try to help

-You help with the sheep, do you?

-You help with the sheep, do you?

-

-Yes, we bring in the sheep.

-We also help with lambing.

-Very good.

-Your father is quite a joker.

-He's terrible,

-but he's also great fun!

-He's a very decent man.

-Decent?!

-Yes, sometimes!

-He's a real character!

-You know him well!

-Yes, I know him well.

-The wooded hills

-of the Llangernyw area...

-..are a perfect habitat for another

-of Dei Everiss's interests...

-..pheasants.

-"Hail the morning,

-when I shall see him as he is."

-This is a good spot.

-It's not bad.

-This is where you keep the food.

-Yes, for the upper pen -

-there's another pen lower down.

-Do you visit every day?

-Yes, one of the group members.

-I'll just fetch some food.

-It's in a good spot.

-It's in a good spot.

-

-It's nice and dry.

-There are some pheasants over there.

-Does the lower wire keep foxes out?

-Does the lower wire keep foxes out?

-

-Yes.

-There we go.

-The food trickles down.

-The food trickles down.

-

-Yes, when they peck.

-Your pheasants must be clever!

-Your pheasants must be clever!

-

-Yes, they're clever!

-Clever enough to dodge the guns!

-Rearing pheasants isn't easy.

-They must be fed each morning

-and each evening.

-The work is shared

-between the syndicate members.

-How big is the group?

-How big is the group?

-

-There are ten of us.

-It's something to do in winter.

-It's something to do in winter.

-

-Have you been doing this for long?

-Yes, I've always been keen on guns.

-I'm not keen on guns.

-I wish I was, to be honest.

-There's so much to learn.

-I took part

-in a clay pigeon shoot, once.

-I fired,

-and fell flat on my backside!

-I thought my arm had come off!

-But shooting is popular, nowadays.

-In some places,

-it can be a very expensive hobby.

-Yes.

-Places that attract grand people

-in their helicopters.

-There are ten of us.

-We have a lot of fun.

-After a day's shooting, we retire

-to the Stag to discuss how it went.

-Do you pull each other's legs?

-We joke about who needs

-to go to Specsavers...

-..and who's using

-polystyrene cartridges!

-One thing's for certain...

-..I wouldn't go near

-those electric fences!

-But there's no time for any more

-chat - there's grading to be done.

-Today, we're at Gaerwen mart

-in Anglesey.

-Sheep are arriving and Dei

-starts checking them at once.

-Oh, the purple marker

-is out already!

-But the first group isn't typical.

-The stock is always up to standard

-at Gaerwen.

-They're nice lambs.

-They're nice lambs.

-

-Yes, they're not bad.

-Are they Penderyn sheep?

-Are they Penderyn sheep?

-

-Yes, Penderyn.

-Things are going well - you're not

-marking many of them down.

-They're quite good,

-apart from the first ones.

-The owners must have thought

-they'd catch you half-asleep!

-Yes!

-Geraint, the sun

-is shining gloriously.

-Fat lambs are turning out.

-Fat lambs are turning out.

-

-Yes, they're turning out, slowly.

-Numbers are small today.

-Some are being fattened on silage,

-but they're still worthwhile.

-In Anglesey, do you get greater

-numbers earlier in the year?

-Yes, Anglesey is well-known

-for early lambs.

-Lambs are born

-in December and January...

-..and they're ready to sell

-by Easter.

-We still have lambs to sell

-every week, but the boom is over.

-Now, we're getting mountain sheep

-and later lambs.

-Anglesey is known

-for its "can-do" people.

-The stock is excellent.

-Llyn is almost as prominent

-as Ireland.

-We get lots of stock from Llyn,

-Glan Conwy and Anglesey itself.

-Is this where you sell your lambs?

-Is this where you sell your lambs?

-

-Yes, this is where I sell my lambs.

-I sell sheep and cattle too.

-I sell some on the hook too.

-I like to support local businesses.

-Without the mart, our base prices

-wouldn't be so good.

-That's right.

-What about the grader?

-Dei?

-I'm always arguing with him!

-He needs to use less

-of that purple paint!

-You're being hard on me!

-Yes, you're being hard on me!

-If I changed from coins to paper,

-would that help?

-Let Dei Jones

-take a look at that lamb.

-I've seen more meat

-on a butcher's pencil!

-On whose side are you, his or mine?!

-On whose side are you, his or mine?!

-

-Dei is very good.

-He gets along well with farmers.

-He's very fair.

-It's important

-that he gets on well with farmers.

-He'll mark lambs down

-and smile as he does it!

-Bring them back in a month!

-Bring them back in a month!

-

-Will you be here?

-I'll have no hopes at all!

-No, he's not bad.

-He's fair to both sides.

-At the end of the day...

-..he lets buyers know if lambs

-aren't quite up to standard.

-It's good for the market.

-Buyers know what they're getting.

-If lambs aren't up to abattoir

-standards, buyers won't come back.

-Yes, the grader

-does an important job.

-So long as Dei carries on doing his

-job, standards will be maintained.

-That's another day over.

-That's another day over.

-

-Another day over.

-Who does your accounts - your wife?

-No, I do them myself.

-No, I do them myself.

-

-You do them?

-Yes.

-I watch every penny!

-THE AUCTIONEER SPEAKS RAPIDLY

-It's clear that Dei Everiss

-enjoys his work.

-He's a man of his own square mile.

-His home is his paradise.

-I enjoy going around the auctions.

-Some of the characters

-are real stars.

-Back at home, I enjoy checking up

-on the sheep at this time of year.

-It's nice and peaceful.

-I like coming home.

-I'm very happy where I am.

-Very happy, yes.

-Farming is what I want to do.

-I've always wanted to farm.

-Yes, all is well with the world.

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