Derbyshire farmers compete in new episode of hit BBC show
A number of prizes were won by the Derbyshire contestants
Faith Pring
Becky and Matt run a farm in the Derbyshire Dales and appeared on the BBC today (Jan 4). (Image: BBC)
A number of Derbyshire farmers have taken part in a county show as part of a new episode of a hit BBC show broadcast today.
The Royal Cheshire County show, which takes place in June each year, was the main attraction in today's episode (Jan 4) of The Farmer's Country Showdown.
The episode followed farmers Becky Dykes and Matt Tomlinson, and Peter and Sharon Mitchell, as they compete for the top prize in the show.
Both sets of farmers were hoping to win the top award for their Dutch Spotted sheep, a relatively new breed of sheep to be introduced in England.
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Becky Dykes and Matt Tomlinson own an 18 acre farm on the edge of the Derbyshire Dales, with land that has been in Becky's family for generations.
She said: "This property has been in the family for several generations, it went out of the family for so many years, and we brought it back 14 years ago and we've been here since."
"This farm is really important to me, it was my happy place growing up, and it was one of those places where I was at ease."
For Becky, her love of farming started when she was just eight years old on her family's farm.
The pair expressed their love for farming, despite it not being their day jobs.
Financially, both Becky and Matt are forced to work other jobs to be able to support themselves, alongside their farming.
Becky, who also works as a dog groomer, said: "Farming is my passion, dog grooming is my job and if I could I would farm 24/7 but financially I still need the dog grooming."
Partner Matt also works as a contract shepherd, shearing up to 10,000 sheep every year in the local area.
However, the pair were eager to enter their Dutch spotted sheep into the local competition to help them secure their fate as farmers.
"Hopefully in ten years time, me and Matt will be farming together full time then," Becky says.
Matt adds: "Yeah, and our stock will be known worldwide and people will be coming to us. We can all dream but that's what we're aiming for. That's what all farmers aim to do."
The Dutch spotted sheep has only been in the country for the past decade, with a number of farms now owning them. (Image: BBC)
The BBC programme also followed farmers Peter and Sharon Mitchell, who live in Skipton, Yorkshire.
Sharon, a former hairdresser, is currently undertaking an animal management course to help her husband Peter with the farm.
Peter, however, is from a farming background, constantly pestering his father to help on the farm when he was younger.
He said: "I used to annoy my father to death, can I have a go? Can I do it? Most of the time it was I wasn't old enough but he couldn't knock it out of me."
Peter and Sharon own a farm of approximately 90 acres, complete with their own flock of Dutch spotted sheep and pygmy goats.
The couple, who have been married for 27 years, are one day hoping to be self-sufficient on their farm.
Sharon said: "Peter is like a workaholic, he forgets to switch off, but I get it, especially now I'm doing my course, I get it even more."
Peter and Sharon's farming also appeared on the BBC show. (Image: BBC)
Peter added: "Ten years from now I'd like to be self-sufficient, producing my own products and then I'm totally in charge then."
In the climax of the episode, both farmers competed at the Royal Cheshire County show, where the Dutch Spotted sheep had never appeared before.
Around 50,000 visitors were expected to attend the county show, with the help of 500 volunteers.
Andrew Wood, the judge of the Dutch spotted sheep category, said: "It's a very competitive class to judge, probably the most competitive one here today because it's an up and coming breed, which has just multiplied over the last two years.
"I'm up against it today, I am a bit nervous but we'll get through it."
Both families ended up winning awards on the day, with Becky and Matt coming third in the shearing class and Peter and Sharon winning the ram lambs class.
Becky and Matt also came third in another class, whilst Peter and Sharon got the overall reserve champion.
This meant Peter and Sharon had the second best Dutch spotted sheep in the show.
At the end of the episode, both sets of farmers reflected on their journey and said it was worth all the hard work and effort.
Peter said: "The highlight of the day was chatting to the judge afterwards and the compliments he made on my lamb afterwards."
Becky, after winning two rosettes, said: "We're ready for a holiday, but we don't get them."
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