Reepham WI’s meeting this month was again well attended, with members enjoying an entertaining talk by Sam Steggles, cheese maker and proprietor of The Goat Shed in Honingham.
Sam shared how he left school at 15 with few qualifications but with a huge entrepreneurial “can do” spirit.
During a holiday in Cumbria, now some years ago, without any forethought he took the plunge and bought 10 goats.
Having spent all his money on the animals and, of course, hardly able to bring them back on the train, he had to persuade a friend to drive to Cumbria and bring them to Norfolk, where again he had to call on the goodwill of mates to help out with the loan of sheds.
From there Sam started to experiment with cheese making, initially having to make do with his kitchen sink.
Despite entering a cheese competition in the early days, with the judges deeming his cheese virtually inedible, he somehow won an award, which gave him the confidence to carry on, eventually selling out at farmers’ markets under the Fielding Cottage label.
Over time, Sam’s herd increased to 300 goats. This became unmanageable given that he was also holding down a full-time job.
So, he decided to sell the livestock, simply buying back their milk to make a variety of cheeses, which he sold to restaurants, pubs, airlines, supermarkets such as Waitrose and other niche outlets; Sam also started to develop skin-care products from goats’ milk.
Not long before Covid struck, Sam was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, which enables winners to study an aspect of agriculture almost anywhere across the world.
Sam chose to go to Australia. Unfortunately, just as he landed there, a total lockdown of the country was announced.
He had a quick haircut before jumping on the last flight out to the UK, spending just 48 hours in total “down under” instead of the planned 12 weeks.
On his return to Norfolk, with sales of his cheese plummeting, Sam diversified into selling a range of grocery items, then in scarce supply, initially from trestle tables in a “shed” with an honesty box, providing a lifeline to the local community.
As soon as mingling at an acceptable social distance was again permitted, folk began meeting up in the “shed” at Honingham and the “Goat Shed Kitchen” was born.
The constraints of Covid over, Sam has continued to expand the Goat Shed into the award-winning and inviting farm shop, deli and gift shop it is today, with a terrific café enjoyed by people who travel from far and wide.
He remains passionate about goats and their by-products, as well as encouraging young people to become involved in all aspects of the business.
Reepham WI meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm in St Michael’s, Reepham.
Dee Taylor, Reepham WI