Lori-Jo Sharp

I have always loved milking sheep – now I do!

“Finally, it’s given me the confidence to start up on my own, doing something I have always wanted to do - and I am looking forward to see how the next part of my business journey works out.

The programme was great for networking and I made some great industry connections along the way. They were invaluable when my business model had to change”

lori-jo-sharp-farming-ambition
Lori-Jo Sharp

An overview from the Farmer Network:

Lori-Jo Sharp was on our programme in 2016. Having finished her full-time degree in Agriculture at Harper Adams University, Lori-Jo became self-employed. She will be one of the most experienced sheep milkers in the north of England and has worked for the main sheep-milk cheesemaker in Cumbria since leaving school.

Always passionate about sheep, she was determined to create her own flock, selling the milk and gradually building up so she could make her own cheese in the future. Things didn’t go to plan, but undeterred by the set back, and with the help of her Business Mentor, Lori-Jo has accelerated plans to make her own cheese.

She’s showed resilience, adaptability and has been making test cheese ahead of next season. We’ve tasted some of her matured cheddar cheese – and it’s totally delicious.

Here’s what Lori-Jo had to say:

In the beginning: My grandad was a farmer, but my family are builders. I was fortunate to have some land and buildings that I could rent from my parents. The facilities had prospects and my plan was to rent more land in the future. I heard about the business support programme from Charlie Long who had been on the course in the past. He was enthusiastic and said I should just go for it. I’m glad I did.

How the programme helped:

“The programme was great for networking and I made some great industry connections along the way. They were invaluable when my business model had to change.”

Explore enterprise course – the business basics: These 3 workshops helped me by developing skills into running my own business and I got a lot of confidence to use them.

Business Advisors: I got help with my business plan, it was great to have someone who could show me how to structure it properly, and I also got help to organise the loan application. It is so important to get the right costings at the start and it’s worth taking the time to do properly. Your plan may change, but at least you have a good base to work from.

The Training Grant: My intention was to eventually process my own yoghurt and cheese, so I used the grant to go on a cheese making course. Not only did I learn a lot, it also gave me some good connections – which I hadn’t expected to tap into quite so quickly!

The mentoring: James Hadwin has proved to be one of the most beneficial parts of the programme. His support along the way was much appreciated – keeping an eye from a distance but being there when things went wrong. And it’s not just for the two years that are promised, my mentor has been there when needed - any time.

The Loan: I took advantage of the low interest loan to buy 50 Friesland shearlings/ewes and a Laucane tup. It helped me establish my flock and provided funds to help buy a milking parlour, pasteuriser and cheese vat.

Lori-Jo Sharp
Lori-Jo Sharp with sheep milking equipment

Lori-Jo’s journey:

Fulfilling my dream and turning it into reality has been an amazing experience. I’ve loved sheep from being a tot and always had an ambition to milk my own. The programme has enabled me to kick start that process.

Today I have a flock, am renting more land and have buildings that I am turning into a cheese making facility. The programme gave me a real insight into business too – farming is so much more than working the land and livestock and I hadn’t appreciated that – they teach really valuable business skills.

The programme also introduced me to people in the industry – people I have been able to call on when things went wrong. That’s massively important and very encouraging.

I finally had the confidence to start my own business, doing something I loved and dreamt of for so long.

When I lost my milk contract quite early on, it was a real blow. But I had the confidence, the business support and the contacts to adapt and develop the cheese production sooner than I had planned. I fed the milk to lambs and bought pet lambs too. The excess milk I have been using to experiment with cheese – I love creamy cheddar and plan to produce that in the spring.

Building work is well under way for the cheese plant – and it’s very handy having a builder in the family.

I’m planning to lamb a little later next year, and will start milking around 20 ewes, building up to make enough cheese, and as it gets going, I can pull the lambs off and add more milk for cheese production. Cheese from ewes fed on a grass-based system was always my goal and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.

I’ve already learned some very valuable lessons and have secured customers for my cheese. Ideally, it will be sold wholesale to Cartmel Cheese Company, but I’ve also got contacts with other cheese retailers too.

I’m looking forward to having my name on a cheese – that will be the next stage. I like creamy cheddar, but one of the cheeses I made was left to mature – and the feedback has been great – so who knows.

Fulfilling my dream and turning it into reality has been an amazing experience. I’ve loved sheep from being a tot and always had an ambition to milk my own. The programme has enabled me to kick start that process.

Today I have a flock, am renting more land and have buildings that I am turning into a cheese making facility. The programme gave me a real insight into business too – farming is so much more than working the land and livestock and I hadn’t appreciated that – they teach really valuable business skills.

The programme also introduced me to people in the industry – people I have been able to call on when things went wrong. That’s massively important and very encouraging.

I finally had the confidence to start my own business, doing something I loved and dreamt of for so long.

When I lost my milk contract quite early on, it was a real blow. But I had the confidence, the business support and the contacts to adapt and develop the cheese production sooner than I had planned. I fed the milk to lambs and bought pet lambs too. The excess milk I have been using to experiment with cheese – I love creamy cheddar and plan to produce that in the spring.

Building work is well under way for the cheese plant – and it’s very handy having a builder in the family.

I’m planning to lamb a little later next year, and will start milking around 20 ewes, building up to make enough cheese, and as it gets going, I can pull the lambs off and add more milk for cheese production. Cheese from ewes fed on a grass-based system was always my goal and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops.

I’ve already learned some very valuable lessons and have secured customers for my cheese. Ideally, it will be sold wholesale to Cartmel Cheese Company, but I’ve also got contacts with other cheese retailers too.

Overcoming Obstacles: I’m looking forward to having my name on a cheese – that will be the next stage. I like creamy cheddar, but one of the cheeses I made was left to mature – and the feedback has been great – so who knows.

What advice would we give to new entrants?

  • There is so much more to the programme than the grant and the loan. The support and industry contacts are valuable – so make the most of them too
  • Make sure you get your costings right
  • Don’t dive in – make use of the advisors and look at how other people have set up
  • Make use of the follow up support – it’s officially there for two years, but in reality, it’s still there when you need it
  • You must have the dedication, passion and drive to succeed and be prepared to put in the hours of hard work and sacrifice. I am and it’s worth it
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