Many young farmers come from families who have worked the same land for generations – but teenagers Archie Clavin and Jacob Griffiths are trying to break into the industry for the first time.
Archie, 18, is visiting with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, which has 23,000 members in England.
The Yorkshire federation represents the 42 Young Farmers’ Club branches across the region, which act as both a social hub and a support network for those living and working in the countryside.
The butcher lives in the Worth Valley near Keighley, and is also rearing 60 sheep.
Asked about his social life, he agrees it looks a bit different to a “normal friend group” and activities are often based around helping each other with farm jobs.
“We don’t go walking around the streets or anything like that,” he explains.
“We’ll go building dry stone walls together or have a barbecue in the field, it’s not the sort of thing that most people would do.”
His rural location means online deliveries are limited.
“I struggle to get anything delivered with Just Eat or anything like that.
“You’re sat there and you’re thinking, I’m a bit hungry. I don’t want to drive all the way down to Keighley, so I’d rather get a delivery, but it just doesn’t happen.”
Yet Archie is firmly rooted in the countryside and loves working for Barnes of Keighley, and himself.
“It’s a brilliant trade to have and to be a part of because everyone is just so closely knit together.”
What are some of the challenges he thinks the sector faces?
“Costs, that’s the main problem at the minute,” he says.
“Farmers buy at a retail price and have to sell at a wholesale price.
“They buy the feed, the machinery, everything like that at a retail price and then sell it for a cheaper price.”
