From Peggy the cow to a lasting legacy
What began with a single dairy cow and a determination to build a future in farming has now become a legacy that will support young people in agriculture for generations to come.
The Clan Trust has received a generous gift of farmland at Morton Lodge Farm in Morton, Derbyshire, donated by the Hays family in a gesture that will help continue supporting young people starting out in the industry.
The story behind the land begins many years ago with Emmanuel “Mant” Taylor Hays and his wife Alice, whose farming journey started with just one heifer named Peggy.
Peggy arrived by train from East Anglia and quickly became much more than a dairy cow. Producing up to six gallons of milk a day and raising thirteen calves, she formed the foundations of what would become the family farm.
In the early days, Alice delivered milk around the village of Pilsley by horse and cart, stopping at homes with churns and a jug. Through hard work and determination, the family gradually expanded, adding pigs, chickens and arable land, eventually farming around 106 acres.
Their son, Russell Hays, grew up at Morton Lodge Farm before later pursuing a career in agricultural engineering. Although his career took him beyond the farm gates, agriculture remained firmly at the centre of the family’s story.
Years later, when the opportunity arose to decide the future of the land, the family wanted to ensure it continued serving a purpose connected to farming and helping others.
Rather than simply marking the end of one chapter, the decision was made to create something lasting.
The remaining farmland was gifted to the Clan Trust, with income from the land helping support grants for young people entering agriculture — creating opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.
The Hays family said:
"Farming has always been at the heart of our family’s life. From the very beginning, with Peggy the cow and a lot of hard work, my parents built something they were incredibly proud of."
"It felt important that the land should continue to support farming in some way. The Clan Trust helps young people find their feet in the industry, and we hope this gift will help others begin their own journey, just as our family once did."
Ben Turner, Chairman of the Clan Trust, said the gift reflects the generosity and long-term thinking that has long shaped farming communities.
"It is particularly fitting that a farm which began with a single cow - Peggy - and a great deal of determination will now help the next generation begin their own careers in farming."
The story of Morton Lodge Farm began with one cow and a vision for the future. Today, that story continues - creating opportunities for the next generation of people finding their own path into agriculture.
