The Family behind Higher Chylasson Farm
Higher Chylasson Farm is a family-run pedigree pig farm, where ideas are shared freely, questioned thoroughly, and — once agreed — fully supported.
It’s a place where enthusiasm meets experience, where plans are refined through honest conversation, and where everyone ultimately pulls together for the good of the pigs, the farm, and the future of traditional British breeds.
Daniel – The ideas man
Daniel is the driving force behind the pigs at Higher Chylasson Farm and the source of most new plans, breeding ideas, and “while we’re at it…” moments.
With over five years of hands-on involvement in pigs, Daniel manages the pedigree herds day to day, oversees breeding decisions, and is heavily involved in agricultural shows, breeder clubs, and the wider pig community. He plays an active role in the pig section at Stithians Show and regularly exhibits pigs at local and county-level events.
Daniel’s enthusiasm and ambition keep the farm moving forward — even if not every idea lands quietly. Once a plan is agreed, however, the whole family is behind it.
Mum (Zoe) – The boss
Known simply as the boss, Zoe has been there for Daniel through every wild idea — the well-planned ones, the long-term ones he’s never quite finished, and the ones announced at two o’clock in the morning as if they’re already happening.
She questions everything. She pulls ideas apart. There may be an audible sigh, a pause, or a very deliberate eye-roll.
But once an idea has been challenged and tested, her support never wavers.
Zoe keeps the farm grounded, organised, and moving forward, ensuring that enthusiasm turns into something practical — and that the family and the pigs always come first.
Chris – Long-term partner
(some might say long-term suffering)
Chris has been alongside Daniel for the long haul and is very much the long-term partner in all things Higher Chylasson Farm — a role that could fairly be described as long-term suffering.
Chris is never shy about voicing his feelings when a “simple job” turns into an early start, a several-hundred-mile round trip, or a tightly timed mission involving livestock collections, farm visits, and getting home in time for evening feeds or a sow due to farrow.
However, Chris is always there — steady, reliable, and fully committed to the pigs and the farm. Behind the grumbling is genuine care, loyalty, and a shared determination to get the job done properly, no matter how long the day becomes.
Grace – The next generation
Grace joined Higher Chylasson Farm at the age of 13 and quickly showed a level of commitment and maturity well beyond her years.
Calm, observant, and quietly determined, Grace has a growing involvement in pedigree pigs and agricultural shows and represents the next generation of the family farm.
She has already begun to take responsibility within the breeding side of the farm and is developing her own understanding of stockmanship, welfare, and what it means to care properly for pedigree livestock.
Grace is a key part of the future of Higher Chylasson Farm — and a reminder of why passing knowledge on matters.
Benson & Riley-
Part of the team (show veterans at heart)
No family farm would be complete without its four-legged members, and Benson and Riley have been part of Higher Chylasson Farm life for many years — both at home and on the show circuit.
They’ve always enjoyed going to shows, usually announcing their arrival by dive-bombing straight into the straw of their pen, before settling in to watch the world go by. They love meeting the public, soaking up the atmosphere, and quietly observing the show ring action from a comfortable vantage point.
Born in 2014, Benson and Riley are now enjoying a slightly slower pace of life. These days they’re just as happy lazing around the yard at home, keeping a gentle watch over proceedings rather than being right in the middle of the action.
That said, the first evening at a show still brings it all back — once they see familiar faces from the show family, they’re suddenly like their old puppy selves again.
They remain a constant presence, a source of calm on busy days, and very much part of both the family and the fabric of farm life at Higher Chylasson Farm.
The old hands –
Where it all began
Long before pigs became the heart of Higher Chylasson Farm, horses were where it all started.
From the age of four, Daniel’s journey in farming and livestock began with horses, guided every step of the way by his late father, who was always right there behind him — passing on a love of animals, stockmanship, and rural life that still shapes the farm today.
The two remaining horses are the last living link to those beginnings and are often the first to greet visitors as they arrive up the farm track. Now enjoying a slower pace of life, they quietly watch the day unfold as the pigs take centre stage.
They are frequently pictured alongside three generations of Berkshire sows — the original foundation sow, her first generation of home-bred offspring, and the second generation bred here at Higher Chylasson Farm — capturing in one moment where the farm began, what has been built, and what is being carried forward.
They may no longer be at the centre of daily work, but they remain an important part of the family, the farm, and the foundation on which everything else has grown.
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