NEMSA – the North of England Mule Sheep Association – has unveiled a new sponsor, Eden Farm Supplies (Brough) Ltd.
It is regarded as a fitting partnership between one of the UK’s biggest sheep breed associations in terms of numbers, currently with a membership around the 1,000 mark, and one of the North of England’s best-known agricultural supply firms.
“We are delighted to welcome Eden Farm Supplies on board as a new sponsor. They are already well-known and well-used by many of our members across our northern heartlands and we look forward to further cementing this partnership,” said NEMSA’s national chairman, third generation North of England Mule breeder Chris Harrison, who farms at Coatlith Hill, Alston.
Eden Farm Supplies was established 39 years ago in Church Brough, Kirkby Stephen, by Geoff and Carol Tunstall, initially working out of a relation’s living room! They then took over a shop and store in Brough village, where they remained for 12 years and in 2000 further expanded and moved to the current head office premises, main shop and yard in Winton on the A685 between Kirkby Stephen and Brough.
Growth and diversification over the years have been impressive. The company, whose extensive portfolio includes animal health products, dairy hygiene, clothing, feed and livestock equipment, now covers an area encompassing Cumbria, Lancashire, Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire, as far north as the Scottish Borders, as far south as Cheshire.
Standalone auction shops are also located at marts in Penrith, Leyburn, Bentham and Darlington and the Eden Farm Supplies’ workforce now stands at around 20-strong, with a travelling sales team covering the majority of the company’s key trading areas. Geoff and Carol Tunstall remain as directors of the company as well as their son Stephen.
Geoff Tunstall said: “We’re excited to start working alongside NEMSA to help support many of our valued customers old and new.”
Eden Farm Supplies joins long-time NEMSA sponsor, well-known animal identification and management systems company Shearwell Data, which has cemented both its trading partnership and support of the association by agreeing to take over free of charge collection of the levy on annual Mule gimmer lamb sales which is included in the tag price and up to now has been handled by individual auction marts.
Pictured: Eden Farm Supplies Geoff and Carol Tunstall. An Eden Farm Supplies show stand. The Eden Farm Supplies logo.