Ray and the Brown family have historically been known for their cattle breeding, selling both bulls and fresh calved cows from their Bidlea Herd that was founded in 1919 in Biddulph Staffordshire. The family moved to Cheshire in 1961 with 20 animals. A fruit farm when they moved, The Orchards had to be farmed as such until cow numbers increased to best utilise the 130 acre farm. Milked 3 times a day in the 1980's and 1990’s, the cows were getting average yields up to 12,500 litres and the family enjoyed winning prestigious awards such as the "Gold Cup", "The National Dairy Farm" and "The National Dairy Farmer". As time progressed the neighbouring farms, going out of dairying, allowed for the expansion of acreage and a more grass-based system was adopted. Yields are now averaging 10,500 litres, with 5,400 litres from homegrown forage and stock numbers have increased to 900 animals including breeding bulls and youngstock. With Ray and Jill's family: son Adam and his wife Becky, daughter Melanie, younger son Ryan and his wife Becky, and 3 granddaughters, the family thought it would be sensible to create more enterprises and add more value than just increasing the size of the herd. Bidlea Dairy,run by Ray and Jill's older son Adam and his wife Becky, was started in 2019, and has now grown to not only processing most of the farm's milk but also produces cream, butter, cheese and ice cream. 2 years later the Bidlea shop/cafe was opened which has created a great outlet for the produce and provided a lot of local employment. Meanwhile, the farm goes from strength to strength with Ryan and Becky enjoying show successes as well as having a high performing dairy herd. They are now able to invest in new buildings such as new high spec calf rearing building. Off the farm Ray has always been a keen advocate off the young farmers movement and will be the President of Cheshire Young Farmers for their 100th anniversary. He has been county chairman of the NFU and chairman and president of the Western Holstein Club.