Episode #30
The UK Farm That Reinvented Itself With Highland Cattle | With Fiona Wilson, Dumble Farm
This week Horns N' Hooves leaves the country. Lori sits down with Fiona Wilson - Farmer Fi of Dumble Farm in East Yorkshire, England, where a dairy farming crisis became the foundation for one of the UK's most awarded Highland cattle experiences. From milking cows at age nine after her dad lost his arm in a farm accident, to building a conservation project, a Highland cow safari, cow cuddling sessions, a campsite, a vineyard tour, and their own bar - Fiona's story is one of the most remarkable reinventions in farming. This episode is packed with perspective on what it means to use Highland cattle as genuine conservation grazers, how to train cows to cuddle complete strangers, and what British farming can teach American Highland owners about community, creativity, and thinking beyond the pasture. Key Takeaways Highland cattle are uniquely suited to conservation grazing - their behaviour, size, and love of standing water creates habitat that endangered ground nesting birds need. Training cuddle cows takes up to a year of consistent routine before they trust the process. Even the tamest Highlands are unpredictable in a herd hierarchy - stay low, stay alert. Cow sponsorship is a brilliant income stream that connects people globally to conservation work. Diversification saved Dumble Farm - agritourism, glamping, a bar, and a vineyard partnership all grew from one idea. Episode Highlights Fiona shares how TikTok videos of grooming their Highlands started a business they never planned and how an 87-year-old from Hawaii now flies over every year to visit her sponsored cow. The story of the lady from Singapore who had never seen a cow, got a train from London to Yorkshire, and made straw angels in the cuddle pen. How the Dumble Bus safari was built out of old farm parts with brushes on the sides so cows could scratch themselves on the way past. Plus a goat that got into a guest's car and ate their biscuits. Timestamps 00:01 — Welcome & introducing Dumble Farm, East Yorkshire 00:25 — Four generations of dairy farming and losing it all 01:21 — The flooding crisis that forced a complete change of direction 01:44 — Conservation grazing and choosing Highland cattle 02:24 — TikTok, grooming videos and the business that appeared by accident 04:18 — What makes Dumble Farm's Highlands so tame 05:56 — Full pedigree registered Highlands and where they came from 07:14 — The UK's green landscape versus Nebraska's drought 08:47 — How Highlands cool off: paddling, puddles and standing water 11:30 — The Dumble Bus safari and how it was built 13:17 — Conservation for lapwing, curlew and ground nesting birds 15:17 — How Highland cattle physically create bird habitat 18:32 — What Fiona wishes she'd known getting started 20:06 — The danger of horns in a friendly herd hierarchy 22:27 — Training cuddle cows: routine, patience and a full year of practice 26:44 — Goats in the campsite car park — and inside guest cars 31:31 — Glamping, the Boozy Coo Bar and the vineyard tours 33:01 — Work-life balance when your farm is also your home 35:23 — Highland cow sponsorship and the Moo Book page 37:17 — International visitors flying in to see their sponsored cow Book an experience or sponsor a cow at www.dumblefarm.com Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories! Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/
