This week Brian Knipe tells us about Vowgarve Farm and what we can expect to see during Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend.
Name/farm name: Brian Knipe, Vowgarve Farm
What type of farm do you run? (e.g. dairy, poultry, equestrian etc)
I run a dairy farm near Ballymoney.
Tell us about the farm’s background and how you got into farming.
I attended Greenmount College and in 1981, after completing my studies, we moved to Vowgarve and started farming.
What products would you produce on your farm?
On Vowgarve we produce raw milk which is then sold to Dale Farm to be used as a main ingredient in their products.
Tell us about the process involved in creating this product ‘from field to fork’.
On our dairy farm, our cows are milked twice daily and the raw product is then collected and transferred to the Dale Farm plant where it is used in the production of popular products like Dale Farm milk, Dromona cheese and butter.
What awards/successes have you achieved, if any, for the products you supply?
Six years ago we won the Silver Lapwing award for farming in a wildlife friendly manner.
What values do you think an initiative like Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend brings to the agri-food industry?
The initiative is a great way to educate the non-farming public about the importance of the agri-food industry. It gives us farmers a chance to showcase our work and reconnect people with where their food comes from and how it is produced.
Why did you want to participate in Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend?
Opening the farm for a day gives us an excellent opportunity to meet the local community and introduce them to a farm environment. Through welcoming neighbours and local people onto Vowgarve we can explain the farm’s day-to-day processes and help to improve the overall understanding of farming in Northern Ireland.
What plans do you have for activities on your farm during Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend?
This year we will be open both Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June between 1-6pm. On the day we will have self-guided tours of the farm, milking demonstrations, a vintage tractor and model farm display and a designated picnic area if you wish to bring a packed lunch. Tea, coffee, scones and ice cream are available for all visitors free of charge.
On Saturday evening we will be hosting the Greenmount College Summer BBQ. Visitors are more than welcome to stay and enjoy some farmer craic but a small charge of £10 is requested to cover the cost of the food.
What do you hope to achieve from taking part in Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend?
Opening the farm to the public is an excellent opportunity to highlight the excellent standard of Northern Ireland farms and promote the work of local farmers. When people in NI are eating Dale Farm dairy products they don’t necessarily think about where their ingredients came from – so Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is a great opportunity to tell that story.
