A well-known Cheshire farming family, finalists in the 2024 British Farming Awards, have taken centre stage as the latest guests on the 'Talking Crop' podcast by Goodyear Farm Tires. The Hughes family, who run Clayhanger Hall Farm between Crewe and Haslington, share their story as part of the podcast series celebrating UK farming families.
Dennis and Rachael Hughes, alongside their children Andrew Rutter and Emma Jones, have managed the family-owned farm since 2002. The farm, which has been in their family since 1923, specialises in dairy farming, maintaining a milking herd of over 300 cows with a focus on herd size and milk production optimisation.
The Hughes family is the third UK family to be featured on the 'Talking Crop' podcast. Speaking about their involvement, Emma Jones said, “We were honoured to feature on the Talking Crop podcast. We all feel privileged to be in the roles we are, so any podcast series which promotes the work that farming families do should be supported and celebrated."
The family has built a reputation for prioritising cattle genetics and high-quality stock, working closely with local farmers for contract rearing. Both Andrew and Emma brought valuable external experience to the farm when they returned in 2018, with Andrew previously serving as European Breeding Programme Manager for Genus ABS and Emma working as a dairy advisor for the National Farmers Union.
Their appearance on the podcast not only highlights their achievements but also offers a candid view into the challenges and rewards of maintaining a family-run farm. The 'Talking Crop' podcast is available on all major platforms for those interested in their full story.
From breaking news to forward-thinking industry trends, our subscriber section keeps you informed, engaged, and ahead of the competition.
