Charlie Sawle, 13, launches his own dairy in St Agnes

Most 13-year-olds spend their weekday evenings on homework or a games console. Charlie Sawle spends his milking a Jersey cow called Clare, then pasteurising the results and selling them from a farm shop near the North Cornwall coast. His business is called Sid’s Dairy, and he built it himself.

A dairy dream on a beef farm

Charlie is from St Agnes, where his family runs Beacon Cottage Farm across 400 acres. The Sawles are beef farmers, but Charlie wanted something different. He set his sights on dairy from a very young age, and the cattle bug bit early.

“I have always been fascinated by cattle,” Charlie said. “I had my first calf when I was 6 and it was named after my Dad’s first calf, Trevithick, but I couldn’t pronounce that, so it ended up as Terrific.”

He showed that first calf at Stithians Show, and the interest never faded.

Three years of saving

Turning the dream into a working business took patience. Charlie saved for three years before he could buy his first Jersey cow. Clare, born in April 2023, is the result of that effort, and she is milked once a day after school on term-time weekdays.

“I saved up and bought my first Jersey cow so that I could start milking,” he said. “I love milking and it’s so satisfying to see the milk and cream in the fridge at the end of the day.”

Every day after school he heads to the family farm, milks Clare, pasteurises the milk on-site and turns it into a range of products. Charlie has completed all the food safety certifications the business needs to operate.

What’s on the shelf

Customers can buy fresh whole milk, semi-skimmed milk, double cream and traditional Cornish clotted cream straight from the Sid’s Dairy farm shop at Beacon Cottage Farm. The name comes from Charlie’s own nickname. Payment can be made by cash, bank transfer or PayPal, and the shop is open daily.

Jersey cows are known for rich, creamy milk, which suits the clotted cream and double cream especially well.

“Starting Sid’s Dairy has been a dream come true,” Charlie said. “I love working with Clare and being able to produce and sell our own dairy products. Jersey cows produce very rich, creamy milk, so Clare’s milk is perfect for Sid’s Dairy.”

The venture is already picking up local support from customers keen to back a young producer and the next generation of Cornish farmers. Clare, meanwhile, has one job, and Charlie is already thinking about where the dairy goes next.