So it’s Love British Food fortnight, a campaign which promotes #britishfoodisgreat and our fantastic agricultural industry!
So it’s Love British Food fortnight, a campaign which promotes #britishfoodisgreat and our fantastic agricultural industry!
I was delighted to be selected as a 2018 Youth Ambassador along with 13 other inspirational young farmers: Richard Bower, Milly Fyfe, Ed Ford, Georgie Gater-Moore, Luke Winton, Ethan Kinney, Katie Smith, Chris Manley, Linsey Martin, Mary Ankers, Jack Hodgeson, Josh Dowbiggin and Harriet Wilson. CO-OP Farming Pioneers are also taking part and NFYFC is supporting.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend the launch at Elystan Street, London – a Michelin star restaurant run by Phil Howard.
Raymond Blanc, Liz Earle and Candice Brown, ambassadors of the campaign, also attended as well as DEFRA’s Secretary of State Michael Gove.
It was great to hear speeches from all ambassadors about the importance of seasonality and their desires to promote British food and farming. It made me feel proud to be a part of a dynamic industry that’s being recognised for its high animal welfare and environmental standards.
Following this, the chef produced a 3 delicious BRITISH courses using the NHS hospital budget of £4.05 per patient.
It was fantastic to see what could be produced from such a small budget and demonstrates that there is no reason, especially in terms of expenses, why the public sector cannot champion British farming in their institutes!
The event lasted for 2 hours and I loved chatting to both the bake off winner and the maker of the best moisturiser about the importance of connecting consumers with the provenance of their food and their future involvement with the campaign.
We also got a goodie bag full of scrumptious British produce!
Get Involved
Over the past week I have been driving my family mad by stopping every few seconds to take some photographs of farm life, filming videos in pens of pet lambs to using fodder beet as a sign prop for photographs.
But anyone can get involved with the Love British Food campaign, from farmers to consumers!
Simply film yourself saying ‘British Food is Great’ and post the film on Twitter with #BritishFoodisGreat and tag in @LoveBritishFood.
Not only will you be helping promote this important campaign but you could win a gourmet holiday in a boutique hotel on the south coast, including a meal for 2 at Michelin-starred restaurant The Elephant courtesy of Simon Hulstone.
So why not get involved in sharing the #britishfoodisgreat message and championing our hardworking British farmers!
Since it is Mother’s Day this Sunday, I thought I would blog about why our farming mothers are the show winning breed!
Since it is Mother’s Day this Sunday, I thought I would blog about why our farming mothers are the show winning breed!
Being a farm mum is by no means an glamorous job and these women are the unsung heroes in our lives as they juggle chaotic work schedules with daily domestic chores.
Here are five reasons why having a farmer for a mum is the best thing ever and why I am incredibly proud of mine!
Giving 110%
If you look up the definition of ‘hard work’ in the dictionary, you’ll find the words ‘farm mum!’.
Joking aside, ever since I can remember, my farming mum has played a integral role on the farm, from holding the fort and calving cows by herself with two young children in tow, to working 24/7 during lambing months without a single day off.
Yet her working day doesn’t end when she removes her wellies since there is dinner to prepare, washing to sort and overalls to shorten.
She’s the unofficial ‘farm manager’ giving 110% to everything she turns her hand to and selflessly puts her own needs last for both the good of the farm and family.
If anyone deserves a spa break, she does!
Documenting a rare ‘day off’ with a selfie!
DIY
Another perk of having a farmer for a mum is her ‘Do-It-Yourself’ mentality.
Easter Bonnet Making Pro!
From making a variety of costumes for World Book Day to decorating a spare Animec box to store my 21st birthday cards, she is an incredibly resourceful woman and knows how to utilise available materials.
But beware, once she has got an idea in her head, there is no stopping her!
Who said girls can’t drive?
Farming mums smash gender stereotypes on a daily basis – after all there is no such thing as girl jobs and boy jobs on the farm.
Mum’s driving skills could rival any male as she tackles winter snow and ice without a flinch, carts numerous bales around on the tractor during haytime and reverses a trailer into the auction loading bay in ONE GO so many times that I’ve simply lost count!
She has demonstrated that you shouldn’t let your gender define you, especially in the farmyard – rather you should just work hard and give everything your best shot.
Chef Sheila
Farming mums are renown for cooking up a feast and my mum is no exception!
With cooking secrets and techniques passed down farming mother to daughter for countless generations, she has mastered the culinary art and produces mouthwatering mains and delicious desserts on a regular basis.
Ready, Steady, BAKE
It is no wonder that friends always ask if they can stay for tea!
And don’t get me started on her roast dinner…. MMM.
Unfortunately I don’t seem to have inherited her cooking gene, despite all the cooking lessons growing up, as I burn toast and can just about fry an egg – but I can bake luckily!
Mum’s Christmas Dinner!
Always There
No matter how stressed or busy they are, farming mums are always there should you need advice, a giggle, a cuppa tea or a lift back from town at 2:30AM….
We don’t deserve them really!
No such thing as a babysitter!
Here’s to all the farming mums out there – you are doing a fantastic job and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Up and down the country auction marts are at the heart of the farming industry, fostering a sense of community whilst functioning as a trading facility for local businesses.
Up and down the country auction marts are at the heart of the farming industry, fostering a sense of community whilst functioning as a trading facility for local businesses.
Here are eleven types of people you will always spot around the auction mart ring – be sure to look out for them on your next visit!
Old Timers on the Back Row
The back row offers a bird’s eye view for local retired farmers who still want to remain in the farming loop.
You’ve noticed they religiously attend most sales to speculate in farming gossip and trade and are more than prepared for the nostalgic “Back in my day when I saw farming…” conversation:experience has proven nodding and smiling a satisfactory response.
The Scribe
The scribe can be spotted perched at the ringside, frantically scribbling prices down in the catalogue for some winter reading back home.
Heaven forbid their biros run out mid sale!
Seasonal Visitors
Usually after something specific but determined to secure a bargain, these farmers occasionally show their faces at seasonal sales.
To mum’s delight, that’s dad coming home with two turkeys instead of one from the CCM Auction Mart Christmas Turkey Sale, exclaiming ‘That’s one for the Aga and one for the freezer!”
Three Generations
Farming is often a family affair and a trip to the auction mart is no exception, especially as it counts as a well deserved day out!
From babies in prams to young farmers to great uncles, you can usually spot the three generations from the clothing they are wearing; in most cases that’s tweed flapcaps, checkered work shirts or schoffel fleece jackets.
Whoever said farmers weren’t fashionable clearly never visited an auction mart ring side.
The First Time Bidder
Often nervous looking with their ID number in hand, these first timers are ecstatic when they win the lot – if only they realise how addictive that feeling becomes!
Happy vs. Grumpy farmers
Depending on the trade you can usually identify which farmer has had a good day at the office or a bad one from their facial expressions – stay well back if you spot a frown!
The Luck Giver
Some farmers prefer to deliver their luck in person and can be spied dodging in and out of the crowd, scratching their head as they try to put a face to the name or remember who they were looking for in the first place!
The Contract Buyer
Patience is a virtue and one that the contract buyer has mastered.
They are completely focused on the task at hand, and only leave their well worn auction -side spot once they have filled their trailers/lorries up.
The Fine Diner
A well known regular in the auction mart cafe regardless of time of day, you know to look for him in there first!
The farmer only the auctioneer can see
Self-explanatory as you try to work out who keeps outbidding you!
Here come the girls
Farming is no longer the male dominated industry it used to be and the presence of women at the auction mart ringside has increased, much to my delight.
From daughters being promised a good old auction dinner to wives lending a hand with last minute pre-sale prep, our female presence is certainly there and not one to be ignored.
Watch out boys – here come the girls!
Dad and I selling sheep
So these are eleven people you will always spot around the auction mart ring – be sure to look out for them on your next visit and let me know if you spy any more!
As I’m feeling slightly festive, a rarity for me, here are 10 signs you know Christmas has arrived on the farm!
The 3 Wise Reps
Similar to the nativity scene, the festive period warrants an annual visit from local reps who come to the farm bearing gifts of calendars, chocolate and whiskey as a thank you for your custom over the past year.
It is an age old tradition replacing the advent calendar; as soon as you see the rep, you know Christmas is around the corner.
Double order everything
Most things shut down over the Christmas holidays and the farming industry is no exception to this rule.
Experience has taught you to order that extra proven to tide you over until the New Year, as feed wagons don’t and won’t work on Christmas Day!
But for some reason the bills keep coming…
Beware the practical presents
Being pragmatic is something every farmer has a knack for and this is most evident in the giving of practical presents at Christmas time.
Try and look excited as you unwrap yet another pair of overalls, new wellingtons or a head torch for lambing time: it was bought with good intentions, honest!
Make sure the turkey fits in the AGA
Farmers get overtly excited when they realise they can secure a bargain and this happens every Christmas with a visit to the local Turkey Sale.
Despite going to purchase a 17lbs for Christmas Day, it’s not unusual to leave with not one, but two cheap 22lbs!
And whilst you personally may delighted with your bargains, the person cooking the Christmas dinner certainly isn’t when they realise the bird doesn’t fit in the AGA.
Cue a few curse words, some last minute butchering skills and a promise that next time you’ll just stick to the prescribed shopping list!!
Jobs before Presents
It is still a working day meaning daily jobs, such as milking and feeding up, need to be complete before any presents are unwrapped!
On the plus side, the folks are used to getting up early, meaning you never needed to wait for them to wake up as a child before you could open anything.
Rating fields in terms of sledging speed
There is something enchanting about fields covered in glistening untouched snow – especially for a child growing up and playing on the farm.
With slopes and fields galore, you have ranked each one over the years on how fast your sledge will go down the hill and still have favourite field to sledge in.. even at the age of 22!
However, please note that sledges, ropes and quad-bikes do not mix and will only end in tears…
Holly Seekers
Christmas time means holly seekers come out in force, looking for berries to make some festive decorations.
And whilst it is tempting to send these festive people found rummaging in your hedgerows away, experience shows acts of kindness are sometimes rewarded ….
Like that time when we awoke to find a handmade wreathe on our doorstop!
What’s a Carol Singer?
Certainly something only found in films.
The mere thought of carol singers trekking all the way down the snowy and slippery lane just to sing you a song is simply absurd and amusing.
But fair play if anyone has ever turned up outside your farmhouse and belted out a carol or two!
Lost Christmas Walkers
Everyone loves a good countryside stroll and for some reason townies choose the festive period (Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing Day) in particular to go on one.
Be prepared to answer the door to a lost walker half way through your turkey dinner: it is guaranteed to happen one year!
Mouthwatering Kitchen Smells
You certainly never went hungry at Christmas time in a farm house.
From Christmas cakes, mince pies and festive trifles to homemade stuffing, pastries and cheese sauce, farmers wives and mothers have the festive menu perfected and you are guaranteed to leave the table feeling as obese as the turkey you just devoured.
You have dreamed about this meal all year long and every year it just keeps getting better.
And nobody’s Christmas Dinner will ever come up to scratch!
Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset
Those are my 10 signs Christmas has arrived on the farm. But what are yours?
I hope you have enjoyed this festive post.
All that is left for me to say is Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy New Year!
It is hard not to with such amazing scenery, crisp fresh air and abundance of nature. There is just something homely and tranquil about it.
Yet the countryside is also a hectic workplace for farmers up and down the country who are just trying to make a living the best way they know how.
As farmers, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the countryside as much as we do taking care of it, but we really appreciate some respect for our workplace when you are out and about on your weekend strolls.
Here are nine things farmers would like countryside walkers to remember…
1. Cows live in the countryside too!
No matter how fluffy it looks, do not pet the calf!
Contrary to social media opinion, cows, bulls and calves still occupy the fields on a regular basis and are often found chudding happily away without a care in the world.
But be prepared for their reaction to you and your dog, especially if there is young livestock nearby.
After all, cows are protective of their newborn young – something seven year old me discovered!
Remember to remain quiet and calm when walking through a field of cows and calves, avoiding any startling movements that may spook them.
And should the worst happen, let GO of your dog and its lead – it can outrun a cow, meaning you can get to safety separately, saving yourself buckets of sweat and a lot of swearing!
2. Pick up your dog muck
A local farmer’s sign! CREDIT: Lorraine Keogh
Dog poo is known to spread Neosporosis – a disease causing cows to abort their calves or become infected if carried to term.
It is a massive pet peeve for farmers, since it only takes dog walkers a few seconds to pick up poo and dispose of it correctly, but failure to do so can cost a farmer his livelihood!
Poo really isn’t a big deal – farmers deal with tons of it on a daily basis, whether cleaning out sheds, milking cows or muck-spreading.
So take some responsibility and clean up after your pooch – after all you really wouldn’t like it if we came and left our cow crap in your back garden!
3. Buy an up-to-date map .. and stick to it!
Like most things in life, changes can happen and land is no exception to this.
New ownership means that public footpaths are often redirected to suit a farmers’ long term plan, meaning you should use an up-to-date map to avoid trespassing and being shouted at!
It will also save you knocking on farm house doors/ walking into lambing sheds to ask for directions and taking up a farmer’s precious time, meaning you have more time to explore the countryside, and the farmer can carry on with his daily tasks like normal.
4. Leave the gates alone
Leave the gates alone!
If you find the gate open, leave it open.
If you find the gate closed, leave it closed.
Farmers leave gates exactly how they want them and nothing is more frustrating than moving a flock of sheep or herd of heifers to find someone has shut the gate which they are supposed to be turning into!
Just leave the gates alone. Please.
5. Don’t interfere
Don’t get me wrong, farmers appreciate your concern and are grateful when you inform us about something wrong you discovered on your walks.
But more often than not, we are aware that our tup is lame or that there is a gap in the fence and we are dealing with it. There really is no need for you to interfere.
Unless it is something urgent, such as the pigs have escaped and are making a mud-bath of the village green, presume we have it covered!
6. Unless a sheep is on its back
Please intervene if you see a sheep on its back struggling to get up – it is ‘rigged’ and will not be able to get up by itself.
7. Don’t rely on 3G
It may be the 21st century but the countryside still has sparse 3G and limited signal!
Chances are google maps will fail to load and you’ll be stranded in a field completely lost, with limited signal to call for help should an emergency occur.
And whilst you think you may look really cool re-enacting the Simba scene, you just look like a daft townie to farmers, who forgot to buy an up-to-date map and lack a common sense of direction.
Just put your smartphone away and enjoy the countryside in all its glory. You can Instagram that photo of the view once you are back home with a cuppa.
8. It is private for a reason
Farmyards are incredibly busy and sometimes dangerous workplaces, making them private for a reason!
Just stick to the footpath.
We are not trying to hide anything from you, rather prevent an accident from occurring – we are often not aware of your presence and so have not factored it into our (mental) risk assessment of our task.
The last thing we want is for a member of the public to be hurt on our farm. So please just stick to the footpath, and if you do have to cross a farmyard to reach your destination be quick and quiet – no dawdling!
9. Keep your dog on a lead around livestock
Time for walks
The countryside is a great place to exercise your dogs but please remember to keep them on a lead around livestock.
If I have to shout at any more dog walkers, I will go blue in the face!
Yes, most of you keep your dogs on leads when in fields with livestock and I cannot thank you enough.
But for those that don’t, try telling the farmer who has found his beloved flock dead, maned and stressed your excuses: ‘my dog would never chase or kill a sheep/ he’s so well trained he doesn’t need to be on a lead / she’s too small to do any damage’ and then watch his reaction.
As owners, you should realise dogs have sudden instincts and every dog is capable of harming sheep, regardless of temperament, size, breed etc. Just take some RESPONSIBILITY.
The last thing farmers want to do is lawfully shoot your pooch but sometimes there is no other alternative.
Just keep your dog on a lead around livestock. It is that simple.
No better sight!
So those are my top nine things I, as a young farmer, would like countryside walkers to remember during their weekend strolls.
It really is possible for everyone to enjoy the countryside and still be respectful to the people and animals living and working there!
This weekend I was extremely fortunate to represent North West Farmers (Lancashire, Cumbria and Cheshire) at the 802nd Lord Mayor’s Show, London, on behalf of the National Farmers Union, New Holland and The Worshipful Company of Farmers.
This weekend I was extremely fortunate to represent North West Farmers (Lancashire, Cumbria and Cheshire) at the 802nd Lord Mayor’s Show, London, on behalf of the National Farmers Union, New Holland and The Worshipful Company of Farmers.
For those of you thinking, what on earth is the Lord Mayor’s Show, it is one of the most popular historic civic pageants in the world, dating back to 1215 and is basically an eccentrically British celebratory pageant through the streets of London.
I was delighted when I received the email back in August from the NFU announcing I had been nominated and selected as their ‘Young Farmer’ representative for the North West region, and have been counting down the days until the show ever since.
One of the magazines we were featured in!
And what a weekend it was.
After all, it is not your average day that you escort a brand new T7 tractor and C8.80 Combine down the narrow streets of the capital city on national television live!
I was super excited, having only been to London a couple of times previously and couldn’t wait to meet the other seven young farmers who I would be sharing this unique experience with.
I travelled down on the Friday and despite getting lost twice on the tube and abandoning google maps for the old fashion ‘ask a stranger for directions’ technique, I finally made it to The Grange St Pauls, arguably the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in!
Which to choose?!
After the excitement of finding two queen sized beds in my room, both for me, we all met in the lobby and headed off for an official show briefing.
Following this, we went for dinner at The Paternoster, kindly provided by New Holland.
I have never felt so full in all of my life, especially since there was a mix up with the starters and I ended up with a British bangers board all to myself!
Every part of the meal was delicious and if you are ever in London, I highly recommend checking out this restaurant – you will not be disappointed.
During dinner I got the chance to get to know the other young farmers in a more informal manner, as well as meet the New Holland and NFU team in charge of organising the event, including the then NFU president Meurig Raymond.
Once the meal was over we were provided with our jackets, caps and to everyones’ delight, a model T7 tractor each.
Big kid alert!
Never have I see a group of Young Farmers so excited over a toy!
DAY OF THE SHOW
Up early in true farmer fashion, we headed out onto the streets for official photographs with the New Holland kit.
After the two minutes silence for Remembrance Day, the parade started and what a sight it was to watch!
There was so much noise, colour and performance going on that you simply didn’t know where to look.
We were number 101 in the pageant and after 45 minutes, we finally set off, promoting the “PROUD TO PRODUCE YOUR FOOD” message to the onlooking general public.
We got an incredibly reaction, from children cheering, hi-fiving us and pointing to the combine in excitement to the elder generation thanking and smiling at us from every direction.
Even the mayor seemed delighted with his hamper of British produce and New Holland toy tractor!
It was humbling and encouraging to see so much enthusiasm for UK agriculture from all generations lining the streets, especially with the lurking Brexit negotiations making the next ten years uncertain for most farmers, and the fact that by 2050 there will be 9 billion people needing to be fed.
Tight squeeze!
It made the freezing cold and aching jaw (from smiling too much) worthwhile and filled me with optimism that the British people are keen to #backbritshfarming and learn about the provenance of their foods.
Pre-parade brew and selfie
All good things come to an end and in a jiffy the parade was all over.
We parked up the machinery for the final time and after saying our goodbyes, headed off in our different directions.
If you ever get the chance to represent UK Farming at the Lord Mayor’s Show, do not hesitate!
It was, hands down, one of the best opportunities I have ever experienced, from meeting a fantastic bunch of people proud of our industry to promoting the important #backbritshfarming message to the general public both in person and on national live television.
I simply loved every second, and all memories from the day, as well as my toy tractor, will stay with me forever!
Thankyou to everyone involved for making the day successful!
Here is a short video from the NFU summarising the day.
Mental health is a subject that unfortunately attracts so much stigmatism. But it is time to change this!
Mental health is a subject that unfortunately attracts so much stigmatism.
But it is time to change this!
With campaigns such as Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health, there is a clear need for more awareness in today’s society, with more and more people suffering with Mental Health.
Whilst I am not quite ready to share my experience with you all just yet about battling Anxiety and Depression for many years, I am proud to say that I am getting better at managing it and feel in a positive place.
It is for this reason why I am joining the bandwagon (to put it colloquially) and spreading awareness about mental health on my blog, especially when considering that agriculture is a high risk industry for suicide with farmers statistically less likely to seek help.
Tip Number 1. Talking
Yes, it is horrible to talk about your mental health battle to family/friends/professionals.
I speak from experience.
It is never easy to admit that you cannot cope, that things are getting on top of you, that you simply can’t go on. In fact it is pretty damn hard to do and takes an incredibly amount of courage.
Yet trying to cope alone ended up making my depression and anxiety more severe in the long term.
In hindsight, I wished I had opened up sooner and got the help I needed rather than letting it get so serious.
My advice, as a young farmer and someone who has experienced these terrible diseases first hand is just talk to someone.
Whilst I know how lonely and isolating the countryside can be (when the only other lifeform is sheep), there will always be someone or something to talk to; for instance, your best friend at YFC, the Auction Mart Café waitress, amazing charities such as RABI and FCN, professionals like doctors, strangers (phone-lines are always available) and even your beloved sheepdog!
After all, farmers LOVE to talk and are always up for helping someone wherever and whenever they can. It is an industry that has a strong community vibe, so don’t be afraid to utilise your auction mart visits.
Getting your feelings out of your mind and into the open is such a relieving feeling and whilst you may encounter close-minded people (I know I certainly did and I let them prevent me seeking further help!) openness is key to recovery and is the reason why talking is my number one tip for mental health sufferers.
Tip Number 2. Keep On Going
It can be incredibly hard to just keep on going when fighting your mental health on a daily basis. I certainly found it draining: I was disengaged with everything, had no appetite and wanted to sleep all the time. This meant my hobbies and studies suffered as a result.
Farmers suffering from mental health may know this feeling of giving up when faced with daunting daily routine chores.
Points like ‘there is no point mucking out the cattle shed today, it’ll be covered in crap again tomorrow’ may run through their minds leading to further points such as ‘whatever I do is pointless and will make no difference’.
By ignoring this negativity and getting stuck in with daily tasks, the farmyard can offer a great distraction from the troubles occupying the mind, making you rationalise the initial problems and their consequences once you have had some time to rethink them.
So, my number two tip is keep on going. You have got this!
And if you find yourself lacking motivation, a good distraction will take your mind off your problems and allow you to rationalise it later.
Tip Number 3. Be Yourself
My final tip is to be yourself.
There is no need to be constantly comparing yourself to others, whether it’s about friends, jobs, relationships etc.
It is a fruitless exercise – the ‘the grass may be greener on the other side’ kind of thing.
Yes, others may be good farmers, have the latest machinery, are popular in the YFC scene, or have fantastic stock, but being envious won’t make you feel any better – infact it’ll make you feel worse!
Moreover, chances are, that they too have some area of their ‘perfect’ life that they would do anything to change. Like you.
So the solution is simple. Just be you and do your own thing – being an individual is far better than another sheep!
I embrace my difference, and so should you.
***
So those are my three top tips! Guaranteed that they aren’t the easiest, but they were the most effective for my mental health battle.
I hope they are useful to you.
Let’s smash the stigma surrounding Mental Health and remember that’s it’s okay to not be okay!
Helplines to call if you/ family/ or a friend is struggling with mental health:
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Society (R.A.B.I) – 0808 2819490
Being at home for summer has made me feel nostalgic.
Here are 10 things you will know if you grew up on a farm!
Nothing is ever a five minute job
If they say it is then they are lying!
You’ve learned from experience that lending a ‘quick hand’ turns into a twenty minute operation followed by a list of jobs that takes you all morning to complete, making you question why you volunteered in the first place.
Moving sheep takes longer than 5 minutes
Bale twine fixes everything
Waterproof trousers too big? Bale twine belt.
Setting up a temporary race? Bale twine.
Lost your dog lead? Bale twine.
You’ve probably lost count of the amount of times someone has asked you for some whilst working. It has happened so often that you dream about charging. After all, it’s an essential pocket requisite that fixes almost every problem.
You can’t out run a sheep
But you can certainly try! You counted this as your daily workout as it left you out of breathe and threatening to sell the troublesome (to put it politely) ewe at auction the first chance you get.
There is no such thing as being snowed in
Snow is no longer exciting when there is a 4×4 always on hand. But you do look pretty cool rocking up to school on your dad’s tractor.
Dad to the rescue
Who let the ewes out?
Field gates left open becomes a Spanish Inquisition around the kitchen table. No matter how many times you proclaimed your innocence, the blame was assigned to you and dad muttering ‘next time I’ll do the job myself’.
Days off always coincide with bad weather
Booking planned events and actually going is something of a novelty to you. Especially in summer when you are constantly on call for seasonal jobs.
Friends know from experience that you will be missing in action once the weather forecast improves as you’ll be either in the shearing shed or driving a tractor, whether you want to or not. After all, farming comes first in your household.
Even on days off you can’t escape farming
What’s a lie in?
Certainly something that doesn’t happen in your household with your parents considering any time after 8.30am a lie in.
And the horror (and slight envy) when university friends text you at 4pm saying ‘sorry I’ve only just woken up’ whilst you have been working hard all day.
Love/Hate relationship with the weather man
You developed a changeable relationship with the weather forecasts from an early age as it was the most discussed subject on the farm.
TVs were often tutted at and switched off if they stated unsuitable weather for proposed plans and there was an element of speculation surrounding upcoming forecasts. You constantly played a game of who dares win and it was typical for it to rain once you have grass down.
But no matter how many times you trolled the internet in search of a more favourable weather report it always stayed the same – or sometimes got worse! You just learned to get on with it.
Smartphone but no signal
You have spent years searching for a certain spot in the shed where there is enough signal to send a text. In fact you have perfected the lion king scene, holding the phone up high and hoping it sends.
Yet dodgy signal still plagued your rural life and internet was a rarity. People who sent Snapchats/Instagram posts from the lambing shed simply amazed you!
Fine dining equals a trip to the local auction
You were more than happy to accompany your dad to the auction and stand around a cold ring looking at livestock just for those auction lunches. You developed a favouritism towards a certain auction mart cafe and believed they were second best to your mum’s roast dinner.
Mmmmm
Those are my top ten things – if you have any please let me know below!
With Fathers Day this Sunday, I thought I would blog about why our farming fathers are a show-winning breed.
With Fathers Day this Sunday, I thought I would blog about why our farming fathers are a show-winning breed.
Being a farm dad is by no means easy or glamorous, with long hours and changeable schedules meaning they often miss out on important school events, such as my primary school debut as Wolly the Sheep.
Yet our farm dads still play a vital role in our upbringing, providing us country kids with a unique upbringing that town kids could only dream about.
Always a ‘daddy’s girl’ and landrover lover
Here are my five reasons why having a farmer for a dad is the best thing ever and why I would not swap my upbringing with anyone else.
Always Hands On
Living on a working farm means everyday is ‘take your child to work day’.
Me and Dot
Ever since I can remember, I was involved with farming life, from gathering sheep on the quad bike with my dad, playing on his new tractors and machinery to mimicking our hardworking sheepdog when herding a flock of sheep.
Gathering sheep
Sorting the sheep
I even farmed in my school uniform (on occasions!) for small tasks such as turning sheep on the road or shooing them up Pendle Hill.
Me (left) and Ellie (right) strolling on Pendle Hill
My dad not only acted as a teacher through this hands on approach, informing me about animals, nature, diseases, life and death, but demonstrated the importance of hard work if I wanted to succeed in – even if that meant working 24/7 and doing tasks that I don’t enjoy doing.
Animals galore
Another perk of having a farmer for a dad is that you have the option of owning the coolest of pets.
Forget the usual dogs and rabbits – I’m talking ponies, pet lambs, calves, farmyard kittens and even tups!
I definitely became a daddy’s girl after he purchased Beauty, my first ever pony, following Foot and Mouth in 2001.
Yet having a range of pets meant that I grew up having responsibilities in terms of caring for the animals I acquired, like my pony. She had to be brushed, ridden, mucked out etc…
So farm dads are fairly lenient about having pets as it teaches children about the importance of responsibilities and the real life consequences if chores/tasks are not completed.
Pet Lambs = Friends
Unique Toys
Growing up, I had a completely different set of toys to most of my classmates, such as a toy tractor I used to drive around in to pretending to be a Dalek in a spare bale wrap box during haytime.
Beep Beep
Other toys included whatever dad could make in his spare time, like a tractor tyre swing.
‘I AM A DALEK’
Jack of All Trades
Farming fathers have this amazing superhero ability whereby they are an electrician, plumber, mechanic, vet, farmer, welder at any given stage of the day.
From erecting a new fence to mending broken down quad bikes to fixing the milk machine, it seems apparent that there is nothing our farming dads cannot do, except work iPhones…
They have shown us that as long as you work hard, you can be anything that you want to be and that you can be a multi-faceted person if you put your mind to it.
Driving Instructor
Persuading your dad to give you a driving lesson when you live on a farm is no problem whatsoever.
They are incredibly keen for you to learn to drive so they don’t have to ferry you around anymore (they call it ‘independence’).
But more likely, they are excited for that extra pair of hands so that you can drive the tractor at Haytime whilst they go and do something else.
Forever a John Deere Lover
Here’s to all the farming dads out there – you are doing a great job!
A phrase often muttered from Dad’s mouth, ‘I’ll do it later’ seems to be the attitude I, like many students, adopted recently towards revising for my second year exams.
Another technique I mastered was the art of procrastination, with the farmyard offering a variety of distractions making it incredibly hard to stay inside and revise.
Here are my top revision tips for country dwellers with upcoming exams to ensure you utilise your surroundings and do not get too distracted!
Fresh Air & Exercise.
Being surrounded by fields has never been so advantagoeus when it comes to revision breaks. There is nothing better than taking the border collies for walks through the meadows, or a quick jog around the fields to check if any lambs have got stuck in the fence. By breaking up study periods into shorter sessions and exercising, you are boosting brain activity for a more effective study, in addition to lowering stress levels and easing the pressure. So put down your highlighters and shove on your wellies for 5-10 minutes or so for a beneficial refreshing break.
Hey there gals
Forever getting stuck
Use friends/family .. and animals!
Farmers love to talk so why not utilise this opportunity to teach friends and family your revision? By teaching the material to others, you will aid your memory and recall skills as it requires you to learn and organise your knowledge in a clear and structured manner. It can demonstrate you know more than you think or identify areas you need to go back over.
And if you would rather your ‘students’ don’t talk back or ask further questions, then teach it to your favourite heifer/tup/pig/goat/any other farmyard occupant for an additional confidence boost.
Teaching Polly about Ancient Empires rather than sheep
Find the right environment to revise
Okay, so sitting in the middle of a field or the cattle shed is probably not the best place to revise.
From bees buzzing around to sheep bleating, it is full of interruptions that will cost you your desired grade. Instead, work in an environment that will not distract you, whether its your bedroom, kitchen table, parents’ office, or a local library!
Basically anywhere with a desk, so that you can spread out your revision and get going without any distractions.
Revision Break
Eat well
Trips to the auction mart offer more than just updates on trade and a chance to have a chinwag with other local farmers in that THERE IS ALWAYS A GOOD CAFE.
Eating a healthy balanced diet can help you focus and avoid illness whilst revising, and the auction cafe serves a variety of good wholesome British food waiting for you to tuck into.
Steak and Mushroom Pie @ Gisburn Auction Mart
Ham, Egg and Chips @ NW Auctions
Steak and Ale pie @ NW Auctions
Create a plan
Just like farming in that you plan your activities such as dosing sheep on a Tuesday, cleaning the tractor on Wednesday afternoon and possibly cutting the grass should it continue being sunny on Friday morning, you need to create a revision plan that is achievable in terms of the subjects you are revising and the time available.
And just like farming, your plan needs to be flexible as somethings may take longer/be harder than you though – if you haven’t grasped a certain topic area, try looking at it from a different approach rather than postponing/ignoring it. Be flexible but stern in your approach to revising and you will reap the benefits!
Washed the tractor …
Treat Yourself
WELL DONE FOR REVISING – nobody ever says this in real life but they really should. It is important that you reward yourself when you have finally grasp a tough subject/remember a definition/can quote a literary text. So whether you have been eyeing up a new Schoffel fleece, a vital tractor part or simply an ice-cream from your local dairy farm, go ahead and do it. YOU DESERVE IT.
Oops!
Think Positively and Relax
Revision can be very dispiriting, especially when you’re working on subjects that you struggle with. But it needs stressing that failing exams is not the end of the world – seriously.
All you can do is give it your best shot, like everything in life. Remember your sole value is not that you got a B in GCSE Chemistry or an 51 in your University Economics module exam.
You have skills and talents beyond the classroom, such as an ability to shear sheep, drive tractors, plant trees, bake delicious cakes or bombard Instagram with photographs of the farm (GUILTY!) and you should be proud of that.
Just think positive and give it your best shot – nobody can ask for anything more than that.
I like to take photographs of pet lambs
So those were my revision tips for country dwellers. Let me know if you found any of them helpful or have any of your own to suggest!
Hannah Binns 