At Hayes Meadow, a small organic farm nestled in the Devon countryside, traditional livestock meets thoughtful innovation. Following their success winning the Farm Diversification category at the Devon Farm Business Awards 2025, we caught up with owners Graham and Jocelyn to talk about organic beef production, sustainability, and how an interest in whole-animal use led them to create a thriving range of tallow-based skincare products.
Q: For those who may not be familiar with Hayes Meadow, could you introduce yourselves and your farming business?
Graham & Jocelyn:
Hayes Meadow is our family-run farm based in rural Devon. We are organic beef farmers first and foremost, raising 100% grass-fed and finished cattle on species-rich pasture. Over time, the farm has grown into something broader than food production alone, but the heart of everything we do still starts with the land and the animals.
Our approach is deliberately small-scale, regenerative, and rooted in respect for natural systems. We don’t farm with the aim of maximising output at any cost; instead, our focus is on soil health, animal welfare, and producing food and products that are genuinely traceable back to this place.
Q: Organic and regenerative principles appear central to your work. What does sustainability mean to you in practice?
Graham & Jocelyn:
For us, sustainability isn’t a badge or a marketing term—it’s a responsibility. It means managing the land in a way that builds long-term resilience rather than depleting it. Practically, that involves rotational grazing, avoiding artificial inputs, and working with natural cycles rather than against them.
Healthy soil supports healthy pasture, which supports healthy animals. That chain matters. We see our role as stewards of the land, not owners in the traditional sense. Everything we do is guided by the principle of giving back more than we take, whether that’s through biodiversity, soil regeneration, or contributing positively to our local community.
Q: You produce organic beef, but you've also built a successful skincare business using tallow. How did that diversification come about?
Graham & Joceyln:
The skincare side of the business grew very naturally from the farm. When you raise livestock ethically, you become acutely aware of the responsibility to honour the whole animal. Historically, tallow was valued and widely used on farms, in kitchens, and for skincare. Somewhere along the way, that knowledge was lost.
We were already producing exceptional quality fat because of how we farm, and it made sense to use it rather than waste it. What began as a curiosity turned into careful experimentation, learning how to render and formulate tallow properly. Over time, that evolved into a full range of skincare products made right here on the farm.
Q: What sets your tallow skincare apart from other products on the market?
Graham & Jocelyn:
The key difference is control and traceability. We raise the cattle, render the tallow ourselves, and formulate the products on-site. That means we know exactly what goes into every jar, and just as importantly, what doesn’t.
We avoid over-processing. Our tallow isn’t aggressively refined, bleached, or deodorised because we want to retain its natural fatty acid profile. The result is a stable, nutrient-dense fat that works in harmony with the skin. We then combine it with carefully chosen botanical oils, not for trends or label appeal, but because they serve a purpose.
Q: Some people may be surprised to hear about beef fat being used for skincare. How do you address that reaction?
Graham & Jocelyn:
It’s understandable. Modern consumers are quite disconnected from how things were traditionally made. But when people learn about tallow’s compatibility with human skin, and its long history of use, the hesitation often turns into curiosity.
We’re open about our process and try to educate rather than persuade. Tallow closely mirrors the lipids found in our own skin, which is why it performs so well. Once people understand that it comes from high-welfare, organic farming and is used out of respect for the animal, it often reframes the conversation entirely.
Q: Has diversification changed the way the farm operates day to day?
Graham & Jocelyn:
Absolutely. Diversification brings complexity, but it also brings resilience. We’re still farmers, but we’re also manufacturers, product developers, and educators in a sense. Running a skincare business alongside livestock farming requires careful planning, strict certification, and a lot of hands-on work.
However, the two sides of the business support each other. The farm produces the raw material, and the skincare business allows us to add value in a way that aligns with our ethics.
Q: How important is transparency and certification in building trust with your customers?
Graham & Jocelyn:
It’s fundamental. We are independently certified organic, high-welfare, and 100% grass-fed and finished. Those standards hold us accountable, but they also give customers confidence that what we are saying is backed up in practice.
Beyond certification, transparency is about storytelling, showing where things come from, how they’re made, and why choices are taken. Customers increasingly want that connection, especially when it comes to food and skincare.
Q: Looking ahead, how do you see Hayes Meadow evolving?
Graham & Jocelyn:
Growth for us isn’t about scale; it’s about depth. We want to continue refining what we do, improving biodiversity on the land, and developing products that remain true to our values. If diversification happens, it will only ever be because it strengthens the farm rather than distracting from it.
Trowers & Hamlins continue to support UK farming and farm diversification, and will have again sponsored the Devon Farm Business Awards in May 2026. We will introduce you to this year's winners soon.
