Wakefield couple who quit their jobs to run farm near Pontefract to be first guests on farming podcast 'Talking Crop'

Chad and Lucy Stevens took on Horncastle Farm on the border of Pontefract and Wakefield in 2014 following the death of Lucy’s grandfather.

Left with the dilemma of whether to sell the farm or become the fifth generation of the family to farm on the land, Chad and Lucy decided to juggle their careers with taking on the 200-acre farm which is now a mixed operation incorporating cows and sheep.

Determined to focus on the farm, Lucy sold her salon, called Bluebelle in Wakefield in 2021, while Chad took a career break from his role as temporary Chief Inspector of Humberside Police last October.

The pair’s story features on the opening episode of Talking Crop, a new podcast launched by Goodyear Farm Tires to celebrate farming families in the UK.

Chad said that the couple felt “privileged” to be the first guests, saying: “Farming families have had a really tough time over the last two years so it’s fantastic of Goodyear Farm Tires to set up a podcast which celebrates those people who devote their life to their farm.

“Our story is pretty unique due to the lack of farming roots between Lucy and I. Lucy used to come and stay on the farm at the weekend when she was young with her grandparents but didn’t really get involved in any activity so when we took over in 2014, it truly was a case of ‘what do we do now?’

“Helped by some expertise from people who have worked on the farm for decades, we have slowly got to grips with it and have now made the decision to give up our jobs and try and make the farm a success.

“We have three children – Herbie, Arnie and baby Posie – and the boys absolutely love it on the farm.

“It’s very different from our former lifestyles but we wouldn’t swap it for the world and – so far at least – we have no regrets about becoming full-time farmers.”

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As part of their long-term planning, the Stevens family have embraced regenerative agriculture practices and opened their farm to the public, allowing visitors to interact with animals through farm events.

The debut series of Talking Crop will feature six episodes that delve into the unique successes, challenges and choices farming families face.

Amongst the themes the podcast will cover is succession planning, diversification of farming and relationships between family members.

Natalie Dukes, marketing and communications manager at Goodyear Farm Tires, said: “We want to provide a unique insight into the hard work, dedication and benefits which farming families bring to the country and to open the farm door on some fantastic stories.

“Lucy and Chad have a wonderful story so it’s fantastic that they will be the focus of our first podcast of this series.”

The Talking Crop podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.