In celebration of Mother's Day, we spoke to the Rothwells, a fantastic farming family from Foxdale. Running the family farm is very much a family effort, with input from Alan and Alison, their daughter Amy and Granddaughter Kadie. We chatted to them about their livestock prizes, their love of shows, and of course farming.
What livestock do you provide to Isle of Man Meats?
Alan & Alison: Barrule Beltex & Texel’s and Tynwald Borders & Blue Faced Leicester’s
Amy & Kadie: Aalin Beltex
We know you have won many prizes for your livestock — what is the biggest prize you have ever won, and what have you won in the past year?
Alan & Alison: We won first reserve with a Texel Gimmer at the Royal Manx Agriculture Show in 2006, and that same year we won both Short Wool Champion and Long Wool Champion!
Amy & Kadie: This is a hard one, we have two in mind. In 2019 we were blown away when we were awarded Champion, Reserve Champion and Champion Single Lamb Carcass in the dead section at the Isle of Man Fat Stock Show — it was a fantastic feeling, hard to find words to describe it. The 2020 Fat stock show was an even bigger year for us as we won in both the live and dead sections. In the live section our Ewe lambs were awarded Champion and overall Champion with the Wether’s Reserve and overall Reserve. Two days later we arrived at the meat plant for the Carcass show to see we had received Champion, Reserve Champion and Best Single Lamb Carcass again!
Why is showing and competing important to you?
It is always nice to be able to show off our home-produced stock. When it comes to the fat stock show, we're closely monitoring and preparing our lambs from day one, it is not just something that happens in the weeks building up to it. A huge amount of work and effort goes into our animals, and come show day we get a real buzz.
Your favourite thing about farming?
Alison: I have always enjoyed being outside working with stock, and I love seeing the stock we have produced.
Amy: That is a difficult one, I enjoy working outside with our stock and of course the harvest season, but I suppose the showing and sale side of things is what I get most excited about. I am now more hands-on with the sheep than ever, which I am really enjoying. I love dressing the sheep and prepping them for a show, I get a real sense of achievement - and I have had the best teacher, 'Big Al'.
Kadie: I'm quite keen on everything really but my favourite part of farming would have to be lambing and the showing, particularly the Fat Stock show. I also enjoy working some days at W E Teare’s butcher’s with Mark Matthews, who I am learning so much from. I would be out farming every day if I could!
Their Mother’s Day plans? This year, like every year they will be busy in the lambing shed!
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