WIN tickets to the Hook and Son Turn Out Day this Easter

Why not do something completely different this Easter? Come along to the Hook and Son Turn Out Day! Turn Out Day is on the 13th April, Easter Bank Holiday Monday. 

It is the day when the herd is released into a lovely grass field for the first time this year after having been indoors for the winter. The milking herd of sixty cows will run out from the barn to the field at around 10.45am, followed by an equally impressive sight fifteen minutes later when Big Billy comes running out. 

Who is Big Billy? 

Just over nine years ago, one of the farms cows gave birth to a beef cross bull calf. Very sadly, she died, but her calf lived. The owners should have applied for the new calf’s cattle passport from the government within 28 days of it being born, but they missed the deadline. 

All cattle must have a passport in order to be moved or sold off the farm. The government official told them the calf could still have a passport if we sent blood samples from both the new calf and its mother to prove its ID. However, they couldn’t do this as they no longer had the calf’s mum. The official said the calf couldn’t have a passport. 

It could not therefore be moved off the farm and must be killed and consumed on the farm. That was nine years ago. Today the same little calf is now Big Billy. He weighs over a tonne. He’s a lovely gentle giant, maybe he’s the biggest pet in England! He’s an incredible sight especially when he runs around on Turn Out Day, you get an amazing sense of his size and power. 

There will also be a Farmers Market, refreshments, Barbeque and tractor and trailer rides onto the beautiful Pevensey Levels. Tickets are already on sale at our online farm shop here.

However, readers of The Wealden Eye magazine can win a VIP family ticket to the Turn Out Day 2020 by simply liking and sharing this article on Facebook directly from The Wealden Eye Facebook page here.

Or, simply email your entry to events@thewealdeneye.co.uk. The winner will be chosen at the Hailsham Street Market on Saturday the 11th of April.