Up next on Behind the Barn, meet Gary Hughes from Hughes Hill Farms in Kelly's Cross. Alongside his wife Kelly and daughters Grace and Katie, Gary runs the farm, with occasional help from his sons Matt and Jamie. They’ve been dairy farming for 35 years, milking 24 cows using a flat parlour system, where they milk four cows at a time. Although they’re first-generation farmers, Gary’s family has deep roots in the land, with his mother’s family, the Monaghan’s, who cleared and farmed the land in 1839, when they arrived from Ireland. Farming has always been in Gary’s blood, and over the years, he’s come to appreciate the mix of daily tasks that come with the job, from caring for the cows to maintaining the farm’s routine. For Gary, it’s the variety of work combined with the comforting rhythm of farm life that keeps him motivated. He encourages anyone considering dairy farming to give it a try and see if it’s the right fit, as it’s not just a job—it’s a way of life that can be incredibly rewarding.
