Two youngsters who won the supreme championship and reserve championship at CCM Skipton Auction Mart's recent young farmers' prime lamb competition have had the opportunity to follow the progress of their charges as they now enter the food chain.

Kieran Robinson, 11, from Tosside, and Raff Middleton, 10, from Beamsley, stood champion and reserve respectively at the annual highlight with home-bred Beltex-x and Texel-x lambs that were both bought by Gargrave's Craven Farm Butchers, run by Ross and Charlotte Greenwood.

The victor has now been supplied to The Blue Bell Inn, in Kettlewell, to be prepared on behalf of the inn's customers.

Manager Kim Howard explained: “Championing local produce is key to our whole ethos, we're all very passionate about sourcing local produce and a field to fork story is high on our agenda when it comes to our menu. We will certainly make full use of the prime lamb champion. Head chef and owner Michael Pighills and our team are proud to use local suppliers such as Ross and will primarily use the carcass for his famous Roast Leg of Local Lamb traditionally served with homemade giant Yorkshire pudding, goose fat roasted potatoes, buttery mash, seasonal vegetables and minted gravy. Combined with Michael’s culinary expertise, flair for flavour and passion for sourcing local produce expect to see plates including Barnsley chops, rack of lamb and lamb cutlets on the menu soon."

The reserve champion remains on sale at Craven Farm Butchers’ own shop in Asquith Business Park, where customers will also have the choice of all the popular cuts, courtesy of the Greenwoods, who first launched their traditional family-run butchers in late 2022, again with the aim of selling quality local meats, pies, ready meals and lots more. The business has since gone from strength to strength.

CCM’s sales manager and auctioneer Ted Ogden said: “Both up-and-coming young farmers clearly enjoyed the follow-up educational visit to the shop to learn more about the gate-to-plate pathway, about the importance of farming and food, the all-important local supply philosophy and its major impact on our agricultural communities and the local economy.

“The enthusiasm and dedication of both Kieran and Raff and other young people involved in the regional agricultural sector clearly illustrates that the future of sheep farming in this part of the world remains in safe hands.”