Exmoor's Young Farming Generation
by Sandy Francis
The poetic enchantments of gambolling lambs in daisy-decorated pasture, tractors trundling along lanes, cows crossing the road at milking time and the patchwork of golden corn, green paddocks and churned chocolate-fudge fields are as much a part of Exmoor’s storybook landscape as the heathers, streams and rolling cliffs. While nature generously donated the latter, the former required more than a little help from those whose dedication to countryside matters seems to begin and end in their very bone marrow – the farmers. Farming is synonymous with Exmoor. Generations of farming families have lived and died alongside nature’s gifts and challenges. Their legacy is everywhere and it has long been a tradition for farmers to pass that legacy on. Recently though, anyone who reads, hears or watches news will know that farming is probably not as straightforward as it used to be. Not only has disease caused problems, there are other tricky issues: milk quotas, dwindling livestock prices, supermarket demands and so on – new mountains it seems, every year, for farmers to conquer. Perhaps this is enough to send the new generation of country-born children running for cover – to university, to the cities, to any career that doesn’t involve getting up at 5am and wondering if the early lambs will break even this season.
A recent study by Exeter University revealed that the average age of an Exmoor farmer is 55 with a quarter being over 65. Less than 5% are under 35. This is a concern. Without the swans’ legs busily paddling away beneath all that serene beauty, the serene beauty would not exist. The statistics look worrying. They seem to say that there are few young people in the area interested in farming. Yet what they are really saying is that at the moment there are few young people actually farming – it does not necessarily follow that this predicts the state of the future. Keen to believe that farming on Exmoor is not a dying industry, I went in pursuit of a glimmer of hope. Fortunately, I found more than a few enthusiastic people who are getting stuck into the problem.
First stop – West Somerset Community College, Minehead. There are currently around 200 pupils aged 15-18 studying various subjects under the heading Land-based Skills. The college has supported farming for 30 years and helped write the ‘Get Your Hands Dirty’ teaching resource that is now available to all schools. Born out of a common-sense desire to provide qualified young people to meet the skills shortage on Exmoor and beyond, the college now offers eight BTEC vocational courses, mostly delivered at the new College Farm on the outskirts of town. For pupils whose first interest is farming, there is an introduction to agriculture that includes fencing, hedging, dry stone-walling, tractor use, animal and plant care and livestock production. Young farmers of the future can progress to various early certificates in agriculture that teach enough practical skills for direct progression into the workplace. Alternatively, they open the door to higher education.
Nearby, the Cannington arm of Bridgwater College is the oldest establishment for farming-based education in the country. The extensive facilities enable 16-18-year-olds to study for the National Diploma in Agriculture. Students who take this route into farming alternate their time between the college farm and the classroom. They have access to the latest technology and an introduction to evidence-based practices and new ideas from around the world. Like West Somerset Community College, the major objective is to encourage young people into farming and to give them all the tools they need to succeed. Rebecca Horsington is the senior 
lecturer and is firm about farmers needing a commercial outlook. To survive these days, business acumen is essential. The course teaches all aspects of the intricate economics involved in practical farming.
Students Scott, Adam and James are all 17. Statistically, they should be wearing hoodies and hanging around in shopping malls. They are not. These teenagers are far too busy. Adam and James come from farming families on the outskirts of Taunton and Tiverton while Scott’s mum and dad tend a herd of pedigree Holstein cattle in Dunster. All the boys work on their family farms. Between them, they raise heifers, bullocks and ewes, produce milk, grow grasses and wheat and show breeding stock at various agricultural shows. The three of them quickly learned new ideas that could help their family businesses and prove invaluable when they run their own farms.
James, who is interested in sheep husbandry and already has 200 ewes of his own, hopes to introduce scanning techniques that will tell him how many lambs each ewe is carrying. Not only will this save money on feed, it makes for healthier, happier livestock. Ultimately, he wants to take a degree and become a farm manager. Adam also wants to be skilled in all aspects of running a farm. The tractor maintenance module is teaching him how to save significant amounts of money on repair bills. He spoke eloquently about the importance of keeping abreast of new theory and the latest cost-efficient ideas.
On a beautiful Dunster Marsh farm under the watch of Conygar Tower, Scott Fewings has taken on the responsibility of growing wheat on land that his father previously let to neighbours. Scott’s new-found experience means that his family can now grow more of the food that feeds their pedigree show herd. His ever-increasing tractor and machinery skills also make him highly employable locally. Scott is currently undecided whether to take the dairy route like his parents or the arable route. He, James and Adam are already admirably knowledgeable about progressive practice and how British farming has long influenced the international community. Rebecca confirmed that British farming practice is among the most advanced in Europe particularly in dairy and sheep production. International input these days tends to come from further afield, with New Zealand being a favourite stopover for British youngsters on their way to a farming career. A gap year gaining work experience in another country is something that appeals to many young people and students of agriculture do not miss out. Somerset’s Young Farmers Clubs are adept at arranging overseas work placements.
Living this dream have been 20-year-old Serena Stanbury of Exmoor Young Farmers Club, and her 21-year-old
boyfriend Michael Colwill, Chairman of Woolsery YFC in Devon. Both come from strong farming backgrounds. Serena grew up on Combe Farm in Exford. Michael, like the boys at Cannington, trained in agriculture and has worked with tractors and dairy cows ever since. He too plans to stick with farming. The couple have been in New Zealand since October last year, Michael working for an agricultural contractor and Serena as an au pair/assistant for the owners of Grain and Food Ltd.
Serena mentioned that one of the most noticeable differences between farming in New Zealand and Britain is its visibility. Her closest town, Morrinsville, a similar size to South Molton, is predominantly agricultural with the majority of shops having farming connections. She also reported that farms and farming products are widely advertised on national radio and television. This suggests that farming has a different status in New Zealand – that it is more connected to the public than it may be here.
Interestingly, when I asked Rebecca what she feels our farming future might need in order to thrive, along with good training and well-qualified experienced young people, she described a need for farming and the public to reconnect. I asked her if there was anything we could do right now and the answer was simple – buy locally. There are farm shops and farmers’ markets popping up everywhere and this seems a good sign. I came away from my enquiries feeling sure that shopping in these places or on-line, direct from farms, contributes to the preservation of our heritage, and subsequently, the familiar beauty that it creates.
Minehead and Bridgwater Colleges, the YFCs and the hospitable New Zealanders are doing a great deal to encourage and support our young Exmoor people into farming. I made a resolution straightaway to try to do my bit and at least source dairy and meat produce locally. So far, unsurprisingly, the pleasure has been mine.
