88 local life Samuel, the farm has been in your family for several decades. Can you tell us a bit about its history? The history of our farm goes back over 50 years now. It was a time when farming, livestock breeding and milk production were common activities in our region. In 1972, my father and my uncle, both cattle farmers, decided to join forces to create a farm in the charming village of Randogne. In 1973, we started making our own cheese. Over the years, Ferme des Berclaz de Randogne made a name for itself, attracting more and more cheese lovers and locals looking for quality products. But at the turn of the millennium, I realised it was time to modernise our facilities and streamline our farming methods. So I set about building our new farm. The move to our new buildings was a real turning point in the history of our family farm. Our new, modern facilities allowed us to process the milk more efficiently and produce cheese of even higher quality. The traditional methods for milking, hay collecting and feeding the cattle have been considerably reduced by sophisticated equipment and more efficient techniques. Just as you joined your father, your sons are now workingalongside you.What does thismean to you? Ferme des Trontières is our home, the place where the new generation of the Berclaz family thrives. My three sons and I work hand in hand, sharing our common passion for farming. They have grown up alongside the cows, helping to look after the little calves and learning about the many facets of our fascinating profession. The eldest was the first to show a keen interest in our work. Then it was the turn of the second-born and finally the youngest! It was an opportunity for me to pass on my knowledge and train an apprentice who shared not onlymy interestbutalsomypassionforour trade.My children are fully committed to our farm. They have acquired a solid knowledge of the trade thanks to their constant immersion in this environment from an early age. They have grown up socialising with the calves and have developed a deep bond with our cows. The farm is their domain, and I’m proud to see them taking things in hand. I have confidence in them and know that they can carry out the tasks entrusted to them without hesitation. However, I am aware that farming is a demanding profession that cannot be imposed. It’s a personal choice motivated by a deep-seated passion. I consider myself lucky to have been able to choose my own path, and I’m pleased to see that my sons have also chosen to follow the same path. But I also know that this means they have to face up to the responsibilities that come with farming. I hope they find a balance between their love of animals and the challenges they face. Séverine, as someone who didn’t grow up in this environment, what do you think of this family dynamic? It’s wonderful to see three generations working together with such harmony and a shared passion, especially considering that I didn’t grow up in the farming world. Personally, I manage the administrative side of the business. So we all work together and our daily lives are punctuated by the farm. Even though my father-in-law and his brother-in-
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