The Priestley Family
Farmer No: 5500966
Farm: Cracrop Farm
Location: Cumbria
Breed: Texel/Suffolk
Flock Size: 829
Stories from Cracrop Farm
On the rolling pastures of Cracrop Farm, you’ll find more than just sheep grazing or a farmer riding a quadbike through the fields. You’ll find a legacy. For the Priestly family, farming isn’t just a job—it’s their heritage. They are fourth-generation farmers, carrying forward the work that started long before they arrived a decade ago.
Before Cracrop, they farmed near Bradford. But when they settled here, it felt like home, a place to grow not just crops and livestock but memories, laughter, and bonds that run as deep as the soil they work. Farming is a family affair—there’s Ruth, Richard, Sarah and Steven, and sometimes even Grandad, who still pitches in when he can. You don’t choose farming—it chooses you, once you can walk, you can get started on the farm.
The Rhythm of a Farmer’s Day
A day on the farm is never the same, farming moves with the seasons. ‘Each morning starts early, around 7 a.m., with the first feeds and a round of checks on the sheep and cows’.
Winter keeps the farm busy with sheep sales, while spring brings shearing and lambing. There is always something happening and something to do. By 7 p.m., when the workday wraps up, there’s a sense of quiet satisfaction. Farming is hard work, but it’s never dull.
How Farming Has Evolved
Previously farming was done almost entirely on foot, just a farmer, a crook and a sheepdog. Rounding up sheep meant long, gruelling hours trekking across fields. Today, they ride on quadbikes to cover the ground more quickly. Some things do remain unchanged as their loyal sheepdog remains by their side.
Another game-changer has been advancements in animal care. The ability to scan pregnant sheep allows modern farms to better understand their needs, helping provide tailored care. Whilst these innovations may seem small, but they make a world of difference in the well-being of animals and the efficiency of work.
The Magic of Springtime
Lambing season is when the place truly comes alive. There’s a buzz in the air whilst everything is happening and everyone gets very busy. New life enters the world, and the sun finally starts shining again. 'Watching the seasons change year after year never loses its magic’.
Sheep with Personality
The Priestly flock is about 1,200 strong, a mix of Texel and Texel crosses. They have all have unique personalities as unique as people. Some are curious and some bold, others shy and cautious. When working with the sheep so closely from birth you get to know all their quirks.
One sheep, in particular, has a special place in Ruths heart. Her name is Nose - named for the distinctive pattern on her nose. She was one of triplets, but her mother rejected her, and no surrogate mothers would take her in. So, Ruth stepped in, hand rearing and bottle-feeding her.
Nose hasn’t forgotten. ‘Even now, she’ll come to me in the field and feed from my hand. I can pick her out of the flock by her bleat alone. I know farmers aren’t supposed to get attached, but I couldn’t help it, Nose is a little bit special’.
Farming isn’t just a job to the Priestly family, it’s their way of life. The land, the animals, and the changing seasons are woven into who they are.