Karoo sheep farm survives drought with beer and cheese
FAST FACTS
Peter and Francy Schoeman farm on Langbaken, 37km outside of Williston in the Karoo.
They started Langbaken Karoo Cheese in 2010, and it has since become a vital part of their business, helping them survive the drought that has afflicted their area since 2015.
The cheese business has opened up further diversification possibilities, such as tourism and craft beer.
Peter Schoeman’s family, the Van Schalkwyks on his mother’s side, has been farming sheep in the Williston area of the Northern Cape since the 1890s. Peter and Francy, however, share an interest in dairy. “We met in Greyton in the Western Cape, where Peter was working on a dairy farm and I was dabbling in cheesemaking on the nearby farm where I worked,” Francy recalls.
They relocated to the Schoeman family farm near Williston in 2010, and started Langbaken Karoo Cheese
