About FarmWise Devon
FarmWise is a collaborative project run by the Devon County Agricultural Association and Devon County Council.
The events could not run without the support of a number of people, including the event manager, the event steering group, Devon County Council Farming Tenants, and of course the supporting organisations.
We are also incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors:
And many other kind supporters:
Please scroll down or use the below buttons to find out about the different people and organisations involved with FarmWise.
Event Organisers
We are very grateful to all the wonderful zone organisers and stewards who bring so much enthusiasm to running all of the FarmWise events.
The events are all co-ordinated by the FarmWise Events Manager Bev Brown.
Bev Brown
FarmWise Events Manager
This is a very exciting role for me that is close to my heart, being a hill farmers daughter, born and raised on a Dartmoor hill farm in the National Park. My two brothers now run the family farm and where my husband worked for 8 years. My children and I love helping on the farm.
In my spare time, I am a scout leader and a trustee for the Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony within this charity I help to run the Hill Pony display team. Before I took on this role I was working as a school cook, I started in my children’s school because their school cook left after 30 years (she used to cook my school dinners). For the last 5 years I have run the cattle market open day at goose fair in Tavistock, promoting farming, the countryside, and local and rural businesses.
Event Steering Group
FarmWise was established in 2012 with John Lee, OBE as the Chairman. The Steering Group is currently chaired by Deborag Custance Baker.
The current Steering Group Members are:
|
Contact |
Organisation |
|
Barney Butterfield |
FarmWise Chair |
|
Bev Brown |
FarmWise Events organiser |
|
David Beasley |
Devon County Council – Press |
|
Mike Bomford |
Devon County Council – Media & PR Manager |
|
Becky Forrest |
Education Advisor – Bovey School |
|
Vicky Gilbert |
Young Farmers Club |
|
Tom Hammett |
Devon County Agricultural Association |
|
Sophie Herd |
NFU |
|
Nadine Howe |
Bicton College |
|
Linda Keiller |
South West Norse |
|
Tanya Lloyd |
Devon County Council – Health & Safety Advisor |
|
Dan Meek |
South West Norse |
|
Lisa Moore |
Devon County Agricultural Association |
|
Alison Reid |
South West Norse |
|
Peter Smerdon |
DCBT |
|
Brendan Stone |
Devon County Council – Education Advisor |
|
Trev Wayborn |
The Sheep Show – Devon County Farms Estate Tenant Representative |
|
Jon Williams |
Devon County Council |
|
Karen Wonnacott |
Crediton Milling |
|
Helen Wyatt |
Devon County Council |
Devon County Farm Tenants
Farmers from across Devon also play a key role in our Farmwise events.
Barny and Marie Butterfield are cider makers who farm in Crediton. Barny has won lots of awards for his cider including a ‘Golden Fork’ at the Guild of Fine Foods Awards.
David Bragg is a mixed farmer at Higher Artiscombe Farm, Tavistock. David is heavily involved with making, transporting and utilising compost. Davis is one of the contributors of the environmental section.
Chris McWhirter is a sheep farmer at Lower Farm, High Bickington. Chris is an organiser of the sheep section and kindly brought some of his sheep for display in the sheep zone.
Liz and Marcus Warner farm at Lower Henland Farm, Kentisbeare. Liz and Marcus have a variety of different poultry enterprises at Lower Henland Farm, including quail, ducks and chickens. They are the organisers of the poultry section.
Russ and Becky Mckee are mixed beef and sheep farmers at Merryfield Farm, Holsworthy, and they run the beef zone and bring their Ruby Red cattle for the children to meet.
Sam Partridge is a mixed farmer at Duckaller Farm near Dawlish, and helps in the pig zone
Trevor Wayborn from The sheep show farms at Middle Winsham Farm, Braunton– runs the sheep zone and does shearing demonstrations for the children.
Tom and Hele Garland – from Lower Pilehayes farm in Woodbury Salterton have supported us with their sheep.
James Wotton MRICS FAAV – from Churchlands Farm in Ivybridge has helped with and also led the sheep zone at past events.
Jessica and Mark Ravenhill-White from Great Blakeweel Farm Umberleigh
Emily and Luke Knight from Cotley Farm Ottery st Mary.
Robin Bowditch is a dairy farmer at Tarrants Farm in Payhembury. Robin is a keen exhibitor of cows and is one of the organisers of the dairy zone.
Chris and Louise Carpenter are dairy farmers at Fairfield Farm, Denbury. Chris is another of the contributors of the dairy section. Chris and Louise make Aunty Moos Ice-Cream on their farm in Denbury.
James Baker is a dairy farmer at New Ford Farm, Rockbeare. James is another of the contributors of the dairy section and in fact it is his very own cows that are being milked.
Gordon Davies is a dairy farmer at Westcott Farm, Burlescombe. Gordon plays a vital role in the collection and distribution of milk from Devon farms to London for use in many different food products including puddings and ice-cream.
James and Naomi Law are beef farmers at Coppa Dolla Farm, Broadhempston. James and Naomi are contributors to the beef section and had their very own animals on display in the beef zone.
Supporting Organisations
Our thanks go to the following organisations who assist in the running of our events in particular our Autumn Schools event where many host activities on the day.
| Organisation | Organisation continued | Organisation continued |
|---|---|---|
| ABN feed | Adam’s Apples | Barn Owl Trust |
| Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) | Auntie Moo’s | Bishop’s Move |
| Bicton College | Bidfood | Cool Milk |
| Bloomberry Juice Company | Clinton Devon Estate | Crediton Milling |
| Coppa Dolla Farm | Crediton Dairy | Dartmoor National Park |
| Crown Estate | Dairy Co | DCAA |
| Davis and Parsons | Daynes Farm | Devon County Show/Countrywide |
| DCC Grand Western Canal | DEFRA | Devon Waste Management Coastal Waste |
| Devon Mammal Group | Devon Norse Ltd | East Devon Bee Keepers |
| Devon Wildlife Trust | Devon YFC | Fern Richards and Jamie Butcher |
| Exmoor National Park | FeedCo | FWAG |
| Food For Life | Forestry Commission | Home Grown Cereals Authority |
| Genus Limited | Growing Devon Schools | Langage Farm |
| Kenniford Farm Shop | Ladies in Beef | Lloyd Maunder Butchers |
| Leaf | Living Through Landscapes | Magdalen Environmental Trust |
| Local Food Local Children | Lower Farm | Mole Care |
| Mason Kings | Met Office | Quince Honey Farm |
| North Ground Farm | NPS South West Ltd | RSPB |
| Premier Foods | Quicke’s Cheese | Shearwell Data |
| RHS Rosemoor | Royal Horticultural Society | South West Dairy Services |
| Sandford Orchards | Scorse Foods | Stonegate |
| Shalcombe Farm | South Devon College | Teign Trees and Landscapes |
| South West Water | St Bridget’s Nurseries | The Vale Veterinary Group |
| Stover Country Park | Sugar Smart Exeter | Total Produce |
| Teignbridge DCC rangers | The Soil Association | Ladies in pigs |
| Torbay Coast and Countryside | Torbay Council | |
| Farms for City Children | New Holland Tractor |