- 3 weeks ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:07Can you keep this?
00:10Right, Milo, let's get some jobs done.
00:13Farming's a breeze, compared to having four kids.
00:17We're surrounded by the spectacular peat district.
00:22As far as an office goes, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands...
00:30What about Dad there?
00:32..and rolling hills as their playground.
00:35You ready?
00:37This year, we've big plans to increase our flock...
00:42No, Mum!
00:45..and herd...
00:47Can I ride on him?
00:49Oh, you can't ride on him, no.
00:51..whilst continuing to diversify.
00:53What about if we created some sort of farm musical?
00:57Kevin, we've got enough to do, we're not creating a farm bantle.
01:00..and we're excited about what our next chapter might hold.
01:04I can't think of something that would beat this for me.
01:07This is my version of a happy, full life.
01:09Right, let's get some cup of tea, then.
01:11This week on our farm...
01:23You're excited.
01:25Wow.
01:26Yeah.
01:27Did you like that?
01:28Yeah.
01:29The twins help this year's lambs thrive.
01:32Come on.
01:34..and training for the Royal Cheshire Show gets underway in earnest.
01:38Right, stand there.
01:39Right, we're ready.
01:41So make sure his feet are square.
01:43I pull together a team of Ruby League legends for a special fundraiser.
01:48We need the final player.
01:50Will you be it?
01:51Mark Flanagan.
01:53We've got him.
01:54And our flock presents us with a whole new challenge.
01:58It's just not that easy.
02:00My hands are too big.
02:01You need delicate, cute, little, beautiful hands.
02:04I'll do it for the lamb.
02:05Yeah?
02:06Good, good.
02:07I'll do it for the life of a lamb.
02:21Just putting a new bale in for Sonic and Ray.
02:26Feeding time at the zoo.
02:27Hello, chickens.
02:28Hello, chickens.
02:29Hello, chickens.
02:30Hello, chickens.
02:33The smell when you open that bale up.
02:38If you know, you know it's one of them.
02:42The sweetness.
02:43It's just...
02:44Keeping the farm running smoothly has had its challenges recently.
02:49We've had a lot of upheaval in our lives after a fire in the farmhouse meant we had to move into temporary rented accommodation.
02:57While I don't want to add extra stress, there's one event in the farming calendar I think is worth adding to our to-do list.
03:04So what we're going to do in a few weeks' time, we're going to go to a thing called the Royal Cheshire Show.
03:11And we're going to go there.
03:13We're going to go there and we're going to take the calves with us.
03:17And we're going to put a lead on them so we can walk in with them.
03:22Can I hold a big one?
03:24Yeah.
03:25Can I ride on him?
03:27Oh, you can't ride on him, no, but what you can do is walk next to him on a lead.
03:32And you can show him around on the grass in front of everybody.
03:37Yeah?
03:38Yeah?
03:39Would you like to do that?
03:40I want to hold him.
03:42Which one do you want to take on?
03:44Donut.
03:45The big one?
03:46Yeah.
03:47You want to take Sonic in?
03:48The big one?
03:49Yeah.
03:50All of them.
03:51Well, you might need some big muscles, though, because he's very strong.
03:54Let me just check, let me just check, see if your big muscles are big enough.
03:59Let me just check, let me check.
04:01I'm not, I didn't eat my dinner all.
04:04Oh, did you not eat your dinner all up?
04:06I don't know if they're going to be big enough then.
04:09I will.
04:10Are you sure?
04:11I am.
04:12Let me just check.
04:13Yeah.
04:14Well, make sure you eat the rest of your dinner, then you'll get big muscles and then you can
04:17take him in the show ring.
04:19Well, Matthias is keen.
04:21And while preparing the young calves for the show takes time, it's essential for us to be
04:25showing our herd and putting the Fletcher family name on the map as breeders of native
04:30Lincoln Reds.
04:32So we're going to put a new bale in for the calves.
04:36Keeping them indoors, we can start alter training them, getting some condition on them,
04:41making sure they're looking as good as they can.
04:44So we need to get cracking.
04:46As well as looking their best, the calves can get used to being handled and the kids will
04:54need to spend time with them to build their trust.
04:59What do you think?
05:00Fluffy.
05:01Fluffy?
05:02Say hello, Sonic.
05:03Hello, Sonic.
05:04Hello, Sonic.
05:05Hello, Sonic.
05:06Can I give my hug on?
05:09You want to give him a cuddle?
05:10Yeah.
05:11Of course you can.
05:12I love Sonic.
05:15You love Sonic?
05:17Yeah.
05:18When in the show ring, the calves will be marked on their form and frame.
05:24And to show them at their best means training them to walk on a halter.
05:31I'm a little bit out of practice.
05:33Come on, Sonic.
05:35Then the thing get, and then it's on.
05:37There we go.
05:38It's okay.
05:39It's okay.
05:40Shhh.
05:41Shhh.
05:42And then it's on.
05:43Hey.
05:44With the twins watching, training is underway.
05:51I can't pull him.
05:52I don't know how the kids are going to go.
05:53I think Sonic is a little bit too big and strong at the minute.
05:57Even for Marnie and Milo.
05:58I mean, it might be ambitious, but I think if we can get him alter-trained, you've got to
06:02make sure that the animal they're with can be controlled by a young kid.
06:08Before you know it, all six of us will be there at the Royal Cheshire show.
06:12The Fletchers are back to defend their title.
06:16Oh.
06:17You're a strong one, you lot.
06:18Mm.
06:19Mm.
06:20Mm.
06:21Mm.
06:22Oh.
06:23You're a strong one, you lot.
06:24Mm.
06:25Mm.
06:26Mm.
06:27Mm.
06:28Mm.
06:29Mm.
06:30Mm.
06:31Mm.
06:32Mm.
06:33Mm.
06:34Just got me Banksy.
06:35Just got me Banksy.
06:36Mm.
06:37Just got me Banksy.
06:48Just got me Banksy.
06:50As lambing season draws to a close,
06:53there's just a few newborns left in the barn
06:55that we're keeping an eye on before we turn them out
06:57to join the rest of the flock.
07:00You hold the lamb whilst Daddy helps the mummy.
07:05Yeah, you hold the lamb together.
07:07Oh, you sit down.
07:09Good boy.
07:11A set of twin lambs have been struggling to latch on
07:14and I need to check everything is all right with their mum
07:17and her production of the white stuff.
07:20The milk in a bag has kind of hardened and the teats are just...
07:25There's a little bit of milk coming out there, but not much.
07:28Yeah, you can just feel it's all gone very hard, so...
07:31There's an infection there.
07:33These are all signs of mastitis,
07:37an inflammation of the udder that's painful
07:39and can stop her from producing milk,
07:42putting her life and her lambs at risk.
07:45I think it'd be good to make up a little bottle
07:47and feed this lamb, cos...
07:48Yeah.
07:49..it's looking very thin.
07:50So, boys, would you like to feed the lamb?
07:53Yeah?
07:54Well, I'll get it...
07:56Mummy!
07:57Yeah?
07:59Mummy!
08:00Shall we go and make a bottle?
08:02Yeah.
08:02Come on, then.
08:04Until the swelling has gone down and the infection cleared,
08:07her lambs will need to be fed by us.
08:09Thankfully, a course of antibiotics should clear it all.
08:12We've done it in the past where there's kind of like a little capsule
08:16and it goes into the teat and you just shoot the fluid up there
08:22and that helps break down the mastitis and clear the infection out.
08:25It's pretty important that we get it...
08:27You know, we get onto it straight away, really.
08:30Right, let's see what we've got to make this bottle.
08:33What are you doing there?
08:34So, we need a bottle, we need a jug, we need a teat, and we need some milk.
08:46Oh!
08:47With four kids of our own, one thing Liz and I are dab hands at
08:51is making up bottles.
08:53So, this is just basically like formula, I guess,
08:56that you would give to babies, but it's designed for lambs.
08:58So, I'm just going to literally make a bottle like you would for a baby.
09:04And this year, our babies are now big enough to bottle feed the lambs.
09:09Let's hear us. Go give that to Dad.
09:14Oh, wow! Is this the milk?
09:16Yes.
09:17Ready to go.
09:19Hello, Mummy.
09:21Are you excited?
09:24Yeah.
09:25Let me say, come on, Mummy.
09:28Oh, you're dead now.
09:30Look.
09:30Now, I just absolutely love how interested they are
09:35and how much they want to do it and be in the place.
09:38They're not scared of anything.
09:40Do you like that?
09:41Do you like that, man?
09:43Did you like that?
09:44Did she say yes?
09:45Did she say yes?
09:46They just instinctively take on a parental role and they're kind of like,
09:52are you all right, baby?
09:54No, they're babying themselves and they see themselves as the protector of this lamb
09:59and such a beautiful, natural quality.
10:02Very hungry, wasn't it, Matthias?
10:05Yes.
10:05Oh, nice full belly.
10:09With the lamb content, a short course of antibiotics will clear the mastitis
10:13and the lambs will hopefully be latching on again in no time.
10:18The kids make these jobs way more fun, that is for sure.
10:44Right, Marnie, we're going to get Sonic out first.
10:48Come here.
10:50Come on.
10:56Hey.
10:58Hey.
10:59Cattle training for the Royal Cheshire Show is underway.
11:03Hey, hey, come on.
11:04Hey, hey.
11:06This year, we've entered Sonic, Ray and Cherry,
11:09who's still yet to calf, into several categories,
11:11including young handlers.
11:13So to help build Marnie and Milo's confidence,
11:16we need to get them hands-on with the young calves.
11:23Sonic is, you know, is just over a year old.
11:29And although he's been on an altar,
11:31he's had a wash, he's been in a show ring, that was a year ago.
11:35And he was with his mum,
11:38so it's going to be very different for him this time.
11:41So now the time is to get him washed,
11:45get a lot of practising, get him on the altar
11:46and just get the kids walking round the yard with him.
11:50Right, come on then, kids.
11:52So, job number one, sleeves up.
11:57The shows are not just about showing the animals,
12:00that's one aspect of it,
12:02but two, it's incredible for our kids
12:04to understand the importance of looking after your herd.
12:07A way of you having some sort of recognition
12:10of what you're doing with your farm
12:12and then when we do sell the produce afterwards,
12:17we are in, hopefully, award-winning.
12:25Oh, bubbles!
12:27Nice.
12:28He likes this.
12:31Oh, I got the back-end job.
12:33It doesn't take four people to wash the cow,
12:36but you've got to designate yourself a job.
12:39They're all getting stuck in, it's good.
12:40Looking good, isn't it, Milo?
12:42What do you reckon, mate?
12:43Good.
12:44Yeah?
12:44I don't even know if this is for a cow.
12:46I've got a feeling this is a dog brush.
12:50Good lad, Milo.
12:53Excellent work.
12:55Let's give him a good scrub.
12:56Come on.
12:58But when the judge says,
12:59guys, these animals look amazing,
13:04you can say,
13:05well, yeah, we've washed them.
13:08That's it.
13:10We're good.
13:15So now we'll take Sonic for a little walk around the yard
13:18and we can all take it in turns, yeah?
13:21Are we ready?
13:30Looks terrible.
13:32Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
13:33Hey, look, you OK?
13:34Sonic is nearly three times the size and weight
13:38that he was last year
13:40and he's making sure I know it.
13:45Oh.
13:47You OK?
13:48Yeah?
13:49And it calls the cows.
13:51There's a lot of risk involved.
13:53They're fast, they're strong,
13:55they could drag you off easily.
13:57Kelvin has got balls of steel.
14:02Come on.
14:06Can't say I feel relaxed right now,
14:08but I'm trying to soak in the good vibes and be calm.
14:11With patience and practice,
14:14Sonic will soon learn not to pull on the halter
14:16and then it'll be safe for the kids to take the reins.
14:22It's just a slow process
14:24and that's why before the show,
14:26you want to be doing this every day.
14:29If you want to have a chance at the show,
14:31this is the absolute commitment you've got to have.
14:34And next time it will be that little bit easier
14:36and a bit easier
14:37and day after day it'll be easier.
14:40Should we get him in then?
14:42Yeah.
14:42Got to open the gate.
14:43Yeah.
14:45But there's no denying
14:47that there's a lot of work to do before showtime.
14:51One down, one to go.
14:52One down, one to go.
15:03Keeping on top of farm maintenance
15:06is one of the hardest things to do.
15:11But we're lucky enough
15:12to have a rather special group of volunteers
15:14who love to lend a hand.
15:21How are we getting on, guys?
15:23We're doing well.
15:24But it's a great job
15:25and it's just as it's now come back again, hasn't it?
15:27Yeah, yeah.
15:28We put it all back, didn't we, early in the year?
15:29It's just perfect for us, this.
15:31Got my own trimmers now, Darren.
15:32These are my nan's trimmers.
15:35Oh, fantastic.
15:36They're extendable as well,
15:37which is pretty good for someone short like me.
15:47So today we've got
15:49people from the David Lewis Centre,
15:53a local charity.
15:54We have them here every single Thursday
15:56on the farm
15:57and helping with a variety of little jobs, really.
16:01As we're doing now,
16:02just cutting back some of the edges,
16:04keeping things neat and tidy.
16:05It's the allowing them to get out
16:07and come on our farm
16:09and just experience, you know,
16:11something a little bit different, really.
16:13Nearly two years ago,
16:14this local charity
16:15that provides accommodation
16:16and support
16:17for a wide range of adults
16:18with additional needs
16:19asked me to become an ambassador.
16:22And it's been such a great experience.
16:24There you go.
16:26Are you ready, Terrence?
16:27You're bringing your wheelbarrow up.
16:30As well as supporting fundraising events,
16:32they've become a big part of our lives on the farm too.
16:36Come rain or shine,
16:37they're here,
16:38with smiles on their faces
16:39and collectively,
16:40they just seem to love it.
16:43I guess it helps us as well.
16:45You know,
16:45the upkeep of a farm is huge.
16:49It's not been easy
16:50for us as a family
16:52these last few months.
16:52It's been really challenging at times
16:54and because of the fire,
16:55so to have little jobs like this,
16:57kind of,
16:58have help with,
16:59it's made a massive,
17:01you know, impact.
17:02Every week,
17:05a few adults
17:05and their support workers
17:06like Darren
17:07get hands-on helping.
17:10So,
17:11Aidan loves this type of job,
17:13just cutting back.
17:14Chris will enjoy that.
17:15Paul likes his more manual things.
17:17Yeah.
17:18Aidan,
17:19keep going a bit further up now.
17:21That's it.
17:21Here, here, here.
17:22You're doing well there, Aidan.
17:23Yeah.
17:28Paul's lived with us for many years
17:29and he's been telling me for many years
17:31about how he's gone to linebackers
17:32in the park
17:32and done a dry stone walling course
17:33but you've never been able
17:34to test it, have we?
17:36So, last week
17:37when we saw the fallen wall
17:38I said to Paul,
17:40are you up for it?
17:41And what did you say?
17:42Definitely.
17:43Definitely.
17:47That's actually better
17:48than what it was
17:48originally, I think.
17:50Do you enjoy doing this?
17:51Oh, definitely.
17:52Yeah.
17:53It brings back memories
17:54of my granddad, my dad
17:56and we used to
17:57all the fallen walls.
17:58So, that's why
17:59you're so good at it then,
18:00is it?
18:02He's in his happy place there
18:05just rebuilding the wall
18:07so it's, you know,
18:08it's a little moments like that
18:10that, you know,
18:10make this whole
18:11partnership, if you like,
18:13worthwhile.
18:14And I've just got wind
18:15of an opportunity
18:16to raise some money
18:17this weekend
18:18I'm hoping Darren
18:19and the team will support.
18:20I've entered
18:22a local rugby
18:23tournament
18:24and
18:26playing for
18:27David Lewis.
18:28Oh, fantastic.
18:29Right.
18:29So,
18:30I'm not asking you
18:32if you've got any rugby boots
18:33unless you fancy a game,
18:35I don't know.
18:36You know what?
18:37I'm not as fit as you
18:38where the rugby's concerned.
18:39There's a few lads
18:46in the team
18:46who are
18:47in their day
18:49they were
18:51they were,
18:52like I'm saying this,
18:53but they were world class.
18:55The likes of
18:56Danny Maguire,
18:59Gareth Ellis.
19:01But
19:02there's one spot to fill.
19:03I'm going to hopefully
19:06pull in a big favour.
19:07He's a very good friend of mine
19:09and an ex-rugby league
19:11player as well.
19:13Mr. Mark Flanagan.
19:15His dad
19:15played rugby
19:16for Oldham
19:17and for Great Britain.
19:20And Flash carried
19:20that rugby tradition on
19:21and he started playing
19:22and he inherited
19:23the name Flash as well.
19:26He's not fast.
19:28So,
19:28I still to this day
19:29know,
19:29I don't know why
19:30he's called Flash.
19:33Hello.
19:33What do you want?
19:36Never mind,
19:37what do I want?
19:38I'm calling for a favour.
19:40Right.
19:42But I've entered a team
19:44and
19:44we need
19:46the final player,
19:47we need the final piece
19:47of the puzzle.
19:48Will you be it?
19:52When is it?
19:54In two days' time.
19:56Two days?
19:59For you, Kelvin,
20:00yes.
20:01You're in.
20:02You're in.
20:03Anything for you,
20:03God.
20:04Right,
20:04okay then.
20:05All right,
20:06love you, lad.
20:06See you, lad.
20:07Love you, lad.
20:08Bye-bye.
20:11We've got him.
20:12We've got him.
20:14Mark Flanagan,
20:16a fellow Oldham lad.
20:17The Farmyard Flyers
20:18are at full strength.
20:20We've got a full team,
20:22two days prep.
20:23It's the worst that can happen.
20:29It's called the Farmer's Carry.
20:37It's called the Farmer's Carry.
20:51It's actually a work out of people doing the gym.
20:54Who needs a gym when you're at the farm?
20:56After how Houdini heard breach the fences of our paddock,
20:59I'm out doing a temporary fix on the gap
21:01by putting up some electric fencing
21:03while they're back in the barn for halter training.
21:05I'm not the first farmer
21:08and I won't be the last farmer
21:10to have animals escape.
21:15That'll do.
21:16As daft as it sounds,
21:18this is the stuff that,
21:19when you're inexperienced,
21:21this is the stuff that kind of catches you out a little bit
21:23because a lot of farmers who are generational
21:26have done this with mum and dad
21:28or nan and granddad.
21:29We're constantly having to kind of figure it out
21:31for ourselves and learn on the job, really.
21:35And what we've learnt with our cows
21:36is that the weaning process is challenging
21:39and our usually passive Lincoln Reds
21:41will pretty much charge through anything
21:43to stay together.
21:44I mean, I'm always surprised how high cows can jump.
21:50This is, what, three, three and a half, four,
21:52and they'll just spring that like they're a gazelle.
21:54Those cows need to get to a point in their life
21:56from kind of nine months old
21:57to stand up for themselves, really.
21:59So the weaning process is absolutely crucial, really.
22:03Part of that process is obviously separating them
22:05and making sure that they stay separated.
22:10Right.
22:12Let's get an energiser on it.
22:13Who wants zapping?
22:14The electric current runs through this simple rope
22:19and gives off a low-level shock
22:21that's enough to act as a deterrent for the cows.
22:25So what we do, we're just going to hang this.
22:29We have the green that goes to the earth.
22:31I'll put a little earth stake in.
22:34That earth's the current.
22:37And then we'll get that on there.
22:40And then we've got our terminals here.
22:45Red to positive, black to negative.
22:47And then I've got a little device just to check
22:50what sort of voltage it's throwing out.
22:52So we'll get it connected first.
23:00Oh, so that's showing 7,000 volts.
23:03And it's enough to like, eesh, 7,000.
23:08I reckon that would give me...
23:09Yeah, I reckon that would probably, yeah.
23:12It's tempting us to touch it though and it just to see what it would feel like, but no.
23:16And I don't recommend doing that at home.
23:21The shock is at a safe level and won't harm the cows.
23:24Just send them a strong enough signal that they need to stay in this field.
23:28Well done.
23:29Electric fence up.
23:31It's working 7,000 volts.
23:34So that'll certainly keep the cows at bay.
23:36It's another beautiful spring day on the farm.
23:53And we're all up and at it and ready for anything.
23:55Oh, look at you in them shoes.
24:02Not used to being in them.
24:03Where's your wellies, Kelvin?
24:05We look too hot in it for wellies.
24:07It seems that Liz doesn't think I'm quite ready.
24:11I bet you've had them shoes 20 years.
24:14They're so old that they're now back in fashion.
24:16You know that, don't you?
24:17Are they?
24:18Yeah.
24:20Fashion guru, Kelvin.
24:22Wear it for long enough and it will come back in fashion.
24:24There's your tip.
24:25Liz is right.
24:29I probably should have wore my wellies as this next job could get very messy.
24:33Yeah, a big thing we talk about farming is poo.
24:37Sheep poo.
24:38But today we're going to get the sheep in so we can collect some samples.
24:44They're checking the poo for worms, basically.
24:47Because worms are a big problem for sheep and if you get too many, it is deadly.
24:52Last year we lost quite a few lambs, so...
24:54Now it's a bit warmer, we're just going to be as proactive as possible and try and pre-empt
25:01any sort of worm issues.
25:04Which means today's task is simple.
25:06Gloves on, pick up poo, send it down to the vets, they'll examine it, give us a reading.
25:18If they need a drenching, we drench them.
25:21If they don't, then that's it, it's good news.
25:23Drenching is basically the way we administer medicine to the flock, into their mouths using
25:32a dispenser.
25:34Come on, Gindia.
25:35So, in an attempt to build up the flock's resilience, we've waited to treat.
25:42And the samples we collect today will let us know how well the flock are faring.
25:50So, we need to get these hurdles off.
25:54First, we need to build our holding pen before we herd them down.
25:58And we have a mixed track record of this going well.
26:01I'm not going to get involved in the plan today.
26:04I'm going to do exactly what Kelvin says, which will be music to his ears.
26:10The sun's shining, you know, we'll go with the flow.
26:13Line them up separate, babe.
26:14Six footers and four footers.
26:16What a gorgeous day to be working together.
26:19We've still not got a sheep handling system.
26:22That's the problem.
26:24But other things happen and then you end up spending your money on something else.
26:31It's not as warm as it looks, is it?
26:33No.
26:34Wear this.
26:35Oh.
26:36I've got two T-shirts on.
26:37Oh.
26:39You're such a jenk, Calvin.
26:44Look at that, eh?
26:45There we go.
26:50Now I'm dressed for farming.
26:52Right, so this is our corridor.
26:56Once we've got all the sheep in here, we're going to open the gate.
27:02Like so.
27:03That gate's closed at the bottom and we'll fill this up.
27:06What could possibly go wrong?
27:08Right, I think that's it, darling.
27:09I know. All this for some poo.
27:12You ready?
27:13No.
27:13Right.
27:15Come on.
27:16Sheep in.
27:17Don't forget.
27:19Teamwork makes the...
27:21Teamwork.
27:22Just remember, no matter what, you still love me.
27:26I still love you.
27:26I've got to keep reminding myself of that.
27:28Mind yourself.
27:29When you're dealing with sheep, just remember you love your wife.
27:32Remember, your wife's not against you, she's with you.
27:36That's the hardest thing to remember when you're dealing with sheep.
27:39Remember that you still love each other.
27:41The flock are scattered around our top field, so my job is to drive them down to Liz so we
27:54can herd them into the new pens.
27:55These are those jobs.
27:57It's intense.
27:58It's really serious.
28:00It's, you know, really important.
28:03And these are moments where you have to focus.
28:06And I get distracted quite a bit sometimes.
28:09And they'll be like, Liz!
28:10I'm like, oh, a butterfly.
28:18Come on!
28:25With almost 100 sheep and lambs, and just the two of us, there's no time for daydreaming.
28:31Come on, little lamb, that way.
28:34Just as I thought, the sheep just do whatever they want.
28:37And the lambs are all calling, so they all split up.
28:40But we'll get there.
28:52Come on!
28:59First part of the job is done.
29:01Next, it's time to collect the poo samples.
29:04Did I really say this was the life we dreamt of?
29:10The sun's shining, the sheep are behaving, and while Liz and I round them up to collect
29:22samples to test for worms, back at the farm, Milo is on feeding duties.
29:28It's great that Milo is now old enough to take one of the many farm jobs off my hands.
29:57What I've got to do is, put that like that, and give them something.
30:12And then let's get the lid.
30:14Then let's get the lid.
30:17We can do that.
30:19Ba-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da.
30:25Right.
30:26all done
30:30when you hear
30:32a crock-clun
30:34do crock-a-daw
30:36it means
30:38to another chickens
30:40quick there's danger
30:42back up at the top of the farm
30:50we've moved our entire
30:54flock of sheep into a holding pen
30:56our next task is collecting
30:58fresh poo samples to get tested
31:00by the vet for worms
31:02look at these
31:04little lambs
31:06aww
31:08you're so cute
31:10the lambs are still only
31:14a few weeks old and this is a good opportunity
31:16to check how they're getting on
31:18come on then
31:20these were our first triplets
31:23look at the size of them now
31:25really good long legs
31:28beautiful face
31:29man his little jake
31:31is so cute
31:32they are so cute
31:34it is absolutely
31:38exhausting doing this
31:39it's physical work
31:41old farming is
31:42physical work
31:44now we've got to take the poo samples
31:46how far you going in
31:47I thought you were just picking up off the floor
31:48sample number one
31:57we've got to get ten different samples from across the ewes
32:02we get the mums in this size
32:04so we know that the poo in this section is from the mum
32:06and we know that the poo in that section is from the lamp
32:09so when we're checking it
32:10you know
32:10are you enjoying that?
32:14that is
32:15one, two, three, four, five
32:18you've got to get five more
32:20five more
32:21here you go
32:22three
32:23three good ones there
32:25I'll just spot the poo
32:26probably can collect it
32:28it's amazing
32:29there's any romance left in our relationship
32:31well there is
32:31he's still there
32:33I've seen you do some things in my time
32:36this is a day day isn't it
32:38oh me and Liz had a lovely day together
32:41the other day
32:42wow what did you do?
32:43we just picked up a load of poo together
32:45we've been one that well spotted
32:47grass fed
32:49that's the ew poo taken care of
32:52and now we need ten samples from the lamps
32:55do you want to do five?
32:57and I'll do five
32:58no honestly you can have that one
32:59you're doing a great job
33:01which is easier said than done
33:03I found one
33:05on the floor so far
33:08which is obviously not ideal
33:09I'm going to have to actually go into the
33:12the lamb's bum and
33:13just give me a little finger
33:17pick the poo out
33:18what you need gloves on?
33:20yeah I'm going to get a glove on
33:20oh my god
33:21won't be letting him cook my dinner again
33:22if he does it that way
33:23this is something the vet's done in the past
33:27we've never actually done it
33:28take his lamb samples before
33:31we've always just taken it from the ewes
33:33and it's there in abundance on the floor
33:34it's just not that easy
33:39time to phone the vet for some advice
33:44hello it's Kelvin
33:47we're just trying to get
33:48some poo samples from the lambs
33:51I'm struggling to get my hand in there
33:52to get a sample
33:53so
33:54glove on
33:56it's just
33:57it's just one finger with a lamb
33:59yeah
34:00but it can be
34:02if there's nothing there
34:03it can be a bit difficult
34:05to actually collect it
34:06I'm still in a smaller hand
34:08and how's the best way of doing it
34:10do we need to put any lube on?
34:11it's a bit nicer isn't it
34:12and you've just got to kind of
34:13yeah literally
34:14wiggle about a bit
34:16so you can
34:16get some things
34:18alright great stuff
34:20we'll give it a go
34:21brilliant
34:22alright well thank you very much for that
34:23cheers bye bye
34:25my hands are too big
34:28you need delicate
34:30cute little
34:31beautiful hands
34:32do you know anyone?
34:35but that little finger
34:36we'll do it for the lamb
34:37yeah
34:37oh good
34:38we'll do it for the life of the lamb
34:40that's the spiritless
34:42right you just make sure
34:45it don't kick
34:46oh god
34:54are you in?
34:56he's just like
34:57erm
34:57there's no poo there
35:00I don't think there's any poo there
35:01right just have a feel
35:02have a good root around
35:03no you can't just have a root around
35:05that's not nice
35:06would you like
35:06just want to stick a finger up your bum?
35:08yeah
35:08just use your little finger
35:15there's no poo there
35:16oh god oh god oh
35:17there's no poo there
35:18look there's no poo on my finger
35:20there's no poo there
35:21we've dealt with enough dirty nappies
35:23to not be afraid of a bit of poo
35:25but these samples
35:26aren't easy to get
35:28so we'll take what we have to the vets
35:30and hope it's enough
35:31to test for worms
35:32you check this at the vets
35:42that's
35:42that's
35:43one two three four five six seven eight nine ten
35:48ten samples of you poo
35:50gorgeous
35:50and just one sample
35:52of lamb poo
35:54all right
35:54I'll see you later
35:57good day
35:58I'll let you know
35:58good news on the worms
36:00yeah
36:01or bad news
36:02today we're getting our young calves used to being on the halter
36:23ahead of their appearance in this year's cheshire shop
36:28come on ray
36:30little ray's not even a year old
36:33he's a baby
36:35but he's a big powerful baby
36:37so you've just got to have that respect
36:41especially when you've got kids around
36:43he's a lovely calf
36:48he is
36:48isn't he
36:49it's got a lovely colour isn't it
36:52he likes this
36:54it seems like ray is
36:57I mean he's
36:58he's behaving impeccably now
37:00I think for the calmness of the wash today
37:04the cow wash
37:06I think ray wins
37:07he's certainly been the easier the two
37:09I might take him for a little bit of a walk
37:12the young calves are nowhere near ready for the kids to take the reins
37:16but there's always other jobs they can help us do to get them show ready
37:20all right what I'm going to do now Marnie
37:23I want you to pretend that you're the judge
37:26you're the stock judge
37:29this is my calf
37:31I'm going to walk him round the yard
37:33and I want you to stand in the middle
37:35and be watching us both
37:36we'll have a rehearsal
37:38a practice
37:38a practice show
37:41and next up is
37:44the Lincoln Rooks
37:47come on
37:49come on
37:51come on
37:53come on
37:55come on
37:58come on
37:58right stand there
38:00right
38:01can I hold the stick
38:03yeah
38:03right we're ready
38:05so make sure his feet are square
38:08I think you did a great job
38:10you're very good at controlling him
38:12what breed is he?
38:14a Lincoln Red
38:15how old is he?
38:17he's approaching one
38:18I love how you stopped when he needed to stop
38:22I don't know if he's quite up to having one of you guys walking him yet
38:27I think we still need to do a little bit more training with him
38:30because he's even pulling daddy around
38:32trying to dominate dad
38:34no one dominates dad
38:38I'm the boss
38:40I've no doubt Marnie will be the boss of these calves soon enough
38:44and bring home another win for the Fletcher herd
38:48I actually feel like Ray handled it very well
38:51I hope fingers crossed that we win again
38:54that I would like another wall of rosettes
38:59so yeah this is going to be the wall of champions
39:18today the whole family is taking a break from farm work
39:23trading hay bales for rugby balls
39:25as they come and cheer me on in a local rugby tournament
39:29so Kelvin's put a team together
39:32so they're going to play rugby
39:33for the incredible charity which is David Lewis
39:36they come to the farm once a week
39:38we've kind of set them little jobs on the farm
39:40that just gets them outside
39:42gives them a bit of independence
39:43so we're here
39:44we're playing something called rugby sevens
39:46which I've never heard of before
39:47Kelvin's got his team together
39:48he's got a good set up over there
39:50and we're here as a family
39:52the sun's out
39:53it's glorious
39:54the local charity work with adults and young people
39:57with additional needs
39:58and today they're here supporting us too
40:01I'm really excited
40:03really excited
40:04I don't think it's something we're going to win
40:06but you know we'll have a good time
40:07and we'll have a good laugh
40:08this is your kit Anthony
40:10this is some goodies in there
40:12you've got a playing kit
40:14shorts, socks and a top
40:15and you've also got a candle
40:17oh right
40:18yeah I forgot about that actually
40:19yeah
40:20everyone's for the girlfriends
40:21have you got them a scissor
40:22yeah yeah she's coming down actually
40:23well there you go
40:24I may not have much experience on a rugby pitch
40:27but luckily
40:28I know a few people who have
40:29so I've signed up
40:31ex-England players
40:32Danny Maguire
40:33and Gareth Ellis
40:34along with experience forward
40:36Mark Flanagan
40:36when lads get together
40:39he's their banter
40:40he's so much fun
40:42they're all comedians aren't they
40:43and I think
40:44Kelvin's definitely going to get a bit of stick today
40:46because he's not amazing at rugby
40:48he should probably stick to chasing sheep around
40:51not rugby balls
40:52the teams will play each other in turns
40:56in rounds of quick 14 minute games
40:59it's fast
41:00fun
41:00and I'm just hoping
41:02I can keep up
41:03firstly thank you
41:05for all
41:05proper team talk this isn't it
41:07genuinely you know
41:09thanks for coming
41:10here to have a good
41:11a good time today
41:11we're here to have fun
41:13but ultimately
41:13putting ourselves out of comfort zone
41:15people as you'll know
41:16doing that day in day out
41:17so
41:18that's kind of the spirit of the game
41:19let's just have some fun
41:21let's just have a good laugh
41:22and the one thing
41:23we have to do
41:23we have to beat at least one team
41:25yeah
41:27right then
41:27come on
41:28all in
41:28farmyard flyers on three
41:30one
41:31two
41:32three
41:33farmyard flyers
41:34team talk done
41:37now it's game time
41:38and I've been benched
41:40by the team captain
41:41Mike Flanagan
41:42Kelvin's not made the first team
41:44because they don't really know what he's doing
41:46he's an actor
41:47he's a farmer
41:47he's a great dancer
41:48well when it comes to rugby
41:49I'm not quite sure
41:50he knows what he's doing
41:50so I think it's a good chance
41:52for people who might be a bit more experienced
41:53like these guys
41:54Kelvin can get his notepad out
41:56and make a few pointers
41:58and see how he goes
41:59my own team
42:00I've not even
42:00made the starting line-up
42:02I think I've become
42:05player coach now
42:06yeah
42:06player coach
42:07I've not barked a single command yet though
42:10with the whole family supporting me
42:15and the farmyard flyers
42:16the games get underway
42:18so the good news is
42:27we're raising lots of money
42:28but the bad news is
42:29that they're losing
42:29hopefully people feel sorry
42:31for me and put in more money
42:32after being benched
42:35for the first half
42:36I finally get in on the action
42:38and a chance to salvage some prize
42:41push push push push
42:42these lads are big
42:44but they're not as big as the cows
42:44and I've seen him sort them out
42:46he'll be alright
42:46he'll be alright
42:47but what is it they say
42:50pride comes before
42:51I got pummel good there didn't I
42:58took you out
42:59remind me of that time
43:00that sheep took me out
43:01that was just what he was like
43:02do you remember
43:02we just don't look at the rules
43:05just get the ball and run
43:06that's all you've got to do
43:07I think we should have gone
43:09into the social competition
43:10oh you're in the wrong way
43:11you're in the professional
43:12oh god
43:13one solid tackle later
43:15and I'm feeling a little worse for wear
43:18little injury
43:19I'm hoping
43:22fingers crossed I've not
43:24but it feels like I've tore my bicep
43:25and yeah
43:27so um
43:28not exactly ideal timing
43:33especially
43:34with a Cheshire show
43:35fast approaching
43:36man's injured
43:37aww
43:38come here
43:39aww
43:41do you need looking after
43:42I do actually yeah
43:43I'll see if I know any badness
43:45my main concern is
43:49can you still pull the cow on Tuesday
43:51that's what I'm worried about
43:52they have to get you in
43:53oh god
43:54super sub
43:55I don't know if he's pulled him or so
43:57snapped the tendon
43:59whatever's happened
44:00I want to make sure that he can
44:01lead the cow
44:02erm
44:04it's the arm that you would
44:05lead the cow on as well
44:06so
44:08yeah
44:09we'll have to get him strapped up
44:11and make sure he's alright
44:12with the last game played
44:15time to announce how the farmyard flyers
44:17got on
44:18right guys
44:19well
44:19thank you for today
44:20er
44:21I've just found out we came 5th
44:23I was 6th so
44:24I think that's the result
44:25we had
44:25we had
44:26yeah
44:26yeah
44:27round of applause
44:27yeah yeah yeah
44:28finally
44:29and I think mostly Paul
44:31I just want to say thank you to Darren
44:32and everybody at David Lewis
44:34er
44:34for turning out today
44:35hopefully you've had some good engagement with people
44:37and
44:38good bit of fundraising
44:39that's what it's all about
44:41all in all
44:43despite the bruises
44:44it's been a fantastic day
44:46now
44:47if someone could kindly direct me to the nearest A&E
44:50that would be great
44:51alright it's been a good day
44:53weather's been good
44:54everyone's smiling
44:55everyone's happy
44:55but we have got an handful of injuries
44:57there's going to be some soul bodies tomorrow
44:59my biggest concern now is getting fit for Cheshire Shaw
45:03for cow duties
45:04so we'll have to see how it goes
45:05so thanks again guys
45:08hopefully this is the first of many
45:09so cheers to you all
45:11cheers guys
45:12cheers boys
45:14cheers boys
45:14cheers boys
45:16next time on our farm
45:22Liz and the twins bust out their funkiest moves
45:25in a desperate bid
45:26to summon some rain
45:27show jeeps
45:28go to the rain
45:33we find ourselves turning to some unconventional halter training techniques
45:41good boy
45:41good boy
45:44and now I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
45:49this year when you send viper out
45:51he's not just got three girlfriends
45:54he might have ten
45:56animals are weird
45:58yeah
45:58like cringy
45:59and now I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:01and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:02and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:03and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:04and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:05and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:06and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:07and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:08and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:09and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:10and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:11and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
46:12and I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep
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