A Cow's Life

I read with great interest the recent announcement that Wyke Farms, the UK’s largest independent cheese producer and milk processor, was insuring its cheese expert's nose for $8.3 million. The Somerset-based cheese expert, Nigel Pooley, has worked in the cheese-producing industry since 1963 and has graded cheese for the century-old, family-run Wyke Farms for the past 12 years, where he specializes in selecting good commercial cheese that the rest of us will enjoy.

Richard Clothier, third generation family member & Managing Director at Wyke Farms, is insistent that the quality of their Cheddar is of a consistently high standard and comments: “As an industry veteran with a naturally honed palate, Nigel plays an integral role in ensuring the quality of every batch of Wyke Farms’ award-winning cheddar that leaves the farm. It may seem a bit unusual to go to such great lengths – something that’s typically reserved for celebrities, but then again, we’ve never been afraid to stray from the norm in order produce the best farmhouse cheddar possible. In fact, you could say that Nigel is a bit of a celebrity around our farm.”

I have my own adoration for Wyke myself. You see, it's where my alter-ego resides. The calm lady of England who can relax in the fields and enjoy time with friends and family. Yes, my namesake Michelle the Cow resides on Wyke Farms, the folks there were generous enough to name a young Heifer after me. Actually I stand corrected, her name is actually Michelle of Somerset and I just received word this past week that she's grown up quite nicely and is even expecting a baby.

So, I have to say that I must work harder to support and buy Wyke Farm cheddars - and it's a great thing they are of such good quality - because I need to be sure the new young Heifer to my growing herd is well-cared for and enjoying life. In this wildly crazy world of publishing and retailing where the human Michelle resides, it's nice to know that someone is getting the chance to stop and smell [or eat] the roses. Perhaps someday I will get the chance to meet my four-legged extended family in person some day and chat about the farming and dairy industries. It's always nice to compare notes.