Young Farmers and Careers

People often ask me whether it would be difficult to do my job without a farming background – it gave me the basics, but I’ve learned heaps from other people, experiences and just by doing the job!

Jennifer Jones, 26, works as a vet in the Scottish Borders and lives in Peebles.

Three years ago, Karl Franklin began using Instagram to champion British produce and dispel myths surrounding farming. After recently establishing his own flock, he now shares his farming journey with an audience of more than

I have been able to progress though a number of roles since joining the business in 2006 and now in my roles as Farmers Guardian Head of Livestock and Editor of Dairy Farmer I have a great variety to my job.

I feel that so much pressure is put on young people not to make the wrong choice with their career, but hopefully you can see from my story that all experience counts, especially in an industry like agriculture which is continually striving to reflect, adapt, learn, and improve.

Working within the agriculture sector means you are constantly moving and have to adapt to change so quickly. It’s fun but but it’s not just about muck on wellies, there are so many areas to explore. The opportunities are endless. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

‘I had no intention of pursuing a career in agricultural journalism, but when I saw Farmers Guardian was recruiting for a reporter based in London, I knew I had to go for it.’

In a National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) first, Rachel Goldie has been elected chairwoman 25 years after her father, Alan Goldie, held the position in 1996.

With farming often viewed as a career for life, the need to upskill employees to increase motivation or improve staff retention has become a widely accepted concept. Hannah Binns reports.

Nathan Allen, 24, is a third-generation farmer and currently manages two farms in the heart of the Lake District, in Winster Valley and Cartmel.