Meet the Team at Kitchen Coos and Ewes
Get to Know Us
Our team at Kitchen Coos & Ewes has been put together very carefully over a seven year period. The first person we employed was our friend and neighbour Morag. She laid concrete, carried bricks, drove the tractor, dosed the sheep and wrangled the coos. She was the kind of superwoman we needed to get started on the right foot. She is now retired but we’re still building on the foundations laid down by Morag.
Find out more about our team below.
joint founder
Janet McQuistin
I was a schoolteacher for 28 years before retiring to become a full-time farmer – it was all I ever wanted to be. I love working with coos & ewes and being outside is my natural habitat. Growing up on a nearby farm nurtured my love of home baking, gardening, photography and wildlife which I put to good use at Kitchen Coos & Ewes. When founding the company with my husband Neale I was the baker and tour guide but would never drive the tractor! I also run the social media side of the business where I can get creative music to go with my videos and pictures.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite coo is Robina. She has the same birthday as me and she reminds me of my great aunt Robina who was a jolly lady who always brought sweeties when she came to visit.
joint founder
Neale McQuistin
Worked with coos and ewes all my life.
Asked one, like me to be my wife.
My favourite coo is Sheila Beag the third
and my least favourite food is lemon curd.
My guilty pleasure, that’s just for me,
is to find a mountain where I can ski.
I love to work with our great wee team,
as Kitchen Coos & Ewes fulfils my dream.
When all work is done, and when I’ve time,
I’ll put words together in a childish rhyme.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite coo is Sheila Beag 3rd because she always comes up to me in the field and sets her nose on my shoulder. She is very gentle with everything that has two or four legs.
retired
Morag Parker
Job title is: Superwoman who was with us right at the start. Now retired.
I grew up on our family farm, near Whauphall, in the Machars of Wigtownshire. Learned to drive a tractor at a very early age, just like my brothers.
Spent all my life around livestock and still enjoy seeing the lambs playing in the field in front of my little house in the Luce Valley, now that I’m retired.
I like to pop in, from time to time, to keep up with what’s going on at KC&E.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite coo is Tara as she is the big boss of the fold out on the hill. However, I was always happy to be a team player rather than a big boss.
manager & chief tour guide
Chase Byerly
Hailing from the hills of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia; it was a broken clutch plate on a rickety old campervan that first stranded me in the Luce Valley. I’d heard of a place nearby where they kept a fold of Highland coos and tried to farm for both their stock and the local wildlife.
I was intrigued to say the least and when news began to spread that the farm was potentially looking to bring on more help, I headed straight here and put my name into the hat. I couldn’t possibly be happier here now and love getting to spend my days in the company of the coos. My guilty pleasure is interpretive dance, to trusted audiences only.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite coo is Millis.
tractor driver & tour guide
Jess Byerly
A farmer’s daughter, originally from the Peak District, my work and travel has taken me, in around about way, back to animals, which I adore. I have always admired the intelligence and ruggedness of Highland cattle and being surrounded by them each day at Kitchen Coos and Ewes.
I’m able to study their personalities and share that with others – the sheep aren’t bad either, a constant source of amusement. My guilty pleasure is rifling through charity shops looking for treasure
Who’s your favourite coo?
Favourite coo is Senga.
farmhouse baker
Eilidh Parker
Growing up in a rural community catalysed my passion and keen interest for food. I’ve been a foodie since Day 1, often refusing the children’s menu for the steak menu at restaurants! Having always been impassioned about the food and drink industry, I gained a First-Class honours degree in Food & Consumer Science at Abertay University. After graduating, I worked within the Quality Department at a Cheese Factory. Despite enjoying putting my skills into practice, I missed the creative side of the food industry. Therefore, I became a freelance food and drink consultant and started baking for Kitchen, Coos & Ewes part-time.
I love how baking can bring happiness, bring people together and warm the heart when you’re needing it the most. I strongly believe a wee slice of Oaty Caramel Slice can make anyone’s day!
Who’s your favourite coo?
I don’t have a favourite coo but I just love the EverHot electric oven in the farmhouse kitchen here at KC&E. Powered by renewable energy from the farm wind turbine it’s a joy to work with.
gift shop & online sales
Lorraine Fyfe
After 41 years of banking I left in June 2024 and joined Kitchen Coos & Ewes a month later. Knew very little about farming but every day’s a school day & it’s a lovely place to work. I help out in the farm shop and deal with online orders and whatever else needs doing on the tourist side of things.
Outside of work I love long walks with my wee westie, who is my bestie, and pottering in my garden . I also enjoy spending time with family and friends and became a very proud granny just recently.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite is not a coo but a ewe. We Bambi the orphan ewe lamb is my favourite. I’m sure she’ll make a great mum when she grows up.
hospitality manager
Marie Ferguson
I grew up on a dairy farm and married a hill sheep farmer soon after I left Glasgow University. I was a full time mum to our three children when they came along but once they were all away to secondary school, I put my maths degree to work.
After many years as a lecturer at the further education center in Stranraer I retired and became busier than ever with grandchildren, volunteering in our community and working part-time at KC&E.
front of house
Billy Ferguson
I’ve been a hill farmer all my life. Married a dairy farmer’s daughter called Marie. (See above)
I had the great privilege to have worked with Blackface sheep and Border Collie dogs from the day I left school until the day I retired. When I’m not helping out with our grandchildren, I look forward to meeting and talking to the visitors that come to Kitchen Coos & Ewes. I’ve met so many interesting people from all over the world.
Between tours I love to play the piano by ear.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite coo is Julie but my favourite animal of all time is any Border Collie.
hospitality manager
Jan Gibson
I joined the Kitchen,Coos and Ewes team in 2022 but I have been part of the McQuistin team all my life. After 34 years of working with children, as a Support to Learning Assistant, in Primary Schools , I retired.!
What to do next?
Part time granny and my part time job at KCE with my family. Never been busier and I love it.
tractor driver
Jimmy Gibson
Joined up with the McQuistin team when I married Jan (See above) over forty years ago. I’ve worked on livestock farms in the Southern Rhins of Scotland all my life and I love to drive tractors.
Getting to drive the vintage 1962 Massey Ferguson 35 at KC&E is always special. When I’m not enjoying meeting the guests that come to see the coos I love playing golf.
Who’s your favourite coo?
My favourite coo is Inverie – she is such a superstar.
