Mum found a small petting farm called Foel Farm on the Isle of Anglesey. We ended up renting the holiday cottage on this petting farm. They would lose me for most of our holiday, I could be found helping out with the daily jobs which included mucking out and feeding. A good friend agreed to let me use some of their grazing land and on mothering Sunday in 2017 I bought my first two Hereford x Dexte
r heifers. I decided to go for the Dexter cross cows as they are a smaller breed which would mean the land wouldn’t be churned up to much in the winter. Plus being part Dexter would also be a selling advantage as Dexter is a popular breed for meat. My plan was to breed cows for their meat. When the two heifers were old enough I wanted to breed from them. After a lot of consideration and research I decided to go down the artificial insemination route. I decided that I would have the girls inseminated with Aberdeen Angus as this is another popular breed and good selling point. So we contacted Genus ABS and they were used to do this and both heifers were inseminated with semen from an Aberdeen Angus Bull. Whilst waiting to find out if the AI worked I started going to Homewood School. Before I’d even started I was adamant that I would be joining the school farm, which I did. Being part of the Young Farmers club meant I would be taking part in the Kent Show; this is where this started my desire and passion to show cows. Just before my first Kent Show my first calf was born. After some birthing problems Junee my little black heifer gave birth to a bull calf. This was my first calving experience and unfortunately it wasn’t a pleasant one. However, the experience has taught me a lot. I learnt how to administer injections, bath wounds and look after Junee and her calf. Thankfully when Peggy is red heifer gave birth it went without any problems. Junee’s calf didn’t have a very good suck reflex and fetlock on one of his hooves. With the help of Dad I syringe fed the calf until he learnt how to suck. Our friend helped me correct the fetlocked foot by making him a splint. So, now at the age of 13 years old I was the proud owner of two heifers and and two calves. As the cows won’t be able to pay for themselves for another eighteen months I wanted to buy a couple of weaner pigs to raise up until they were ready to go to slaughter. So, I went and bought myself a couple of Saddleback weaners. I learnt how to weight the pigs using a piece of string, and when they were big enough they went on their “holidays”. I was adamant that I would be the one to take them into the abattoir. I don’t want them to be stressed at all. So each time my animals are ready, with the help of Dad I loads the animals myself and I unload them the other end. I have a long list of family and friends who are keen to support my venture by purchasing my meat. Thankfully they keep coming back, and I’ve had numerous positive feedbacks. As time goes on I decide I want to have a couple of sock lambs to add to my meat list. I was given the name of a farmer who was happy to sell me some lambs. With lots of advice from the farmer and his wife I learnt how to look after them. I was bottle feeding the lambs four times a day to start with. Alongside going to school and swimming for Ashford Town Swimming Club. The time came again for me to have the heifers inseminated again. This time I decided that only Peggy would have a calf, Junee had suffered so much having her first calf that I didn’t want to risk her life again. So, again Peggy was crossed with another Aberdeen Angus and again 283 days later she gave birth to another bull calf, without any hiccups. I have learnt how to tag each animal, and I like to have the calves are halter trained within a few weeks. So, 2019 I now has two cows, three calves, two pigs and two lambs! It usually works out that I has four-6 pigs throughout the year; the money raised from their meat is used to look after everything else. Going back to the Petting Farm on Anglesey briefly; they had three Highland cows. I decided that I would like one of my own. Whilst at one of the Kent Shows Mum and Dad met a lovely couple from Hardham Highlands based in Pulborough, West Sussex who bred and showed prizing winning Highland cattle. They invited me to come down to their farm and see they’re herd of Highland cows. Needless to say, after one visit I was dead set on buying one. So, we contacted them again and they had two heifer yearlings I could choose from. Again we had another trip to Pulborough to collect this girl, who gave me another memorable experience. To say she is spirited is an understatement! She wasn’t as docile as Junee and Peggy. Having these animals is a constant learning curve for me. I wants to show my Highland and I was hoping to do that this year. Unfortunately covid-19 has put my dream on hold for now. My other idea is to breed bull calves from her to sell on. Once lockdown hit and school was closed I asked mum to call Ben Hope from Egerton to see if the he would like any help with Lambing. Lockdown hit right at the beginning of lambing season. So, I began working for Ben alongside doing my school work throughout lockdown. Before lockdown I had a dream of buying a farm and moving to North Wales to live my dream. However, now I have been offered an apprenticeship when I have finished my GCSE’s next year, now I want to stay and do my apprenticeship. I want to buy a farm here now.........
I chose Construction and Business to give me the basic skills if and when I run my own business and/or needs to build anything. Triple Science, because being a farmer will involve using chemicals and Animal Care which will help me gain knowledge. Ben Hope has taken me under his wing and showing me all aspects of farming, now I want to expand my animals. This means I am now on the lookout for more grazing land. With the help of mum I went onto land registry and found a small field near High Halden. It turned out that this field was owned by someone we knew. Again, the land owners were keen to help encourage me and they liked the idea of having animals graze the land again. With the help of family and friends, Dad and I re-fenced the field and got it ready for animals. I bought himself two pure Dexter steers which are now grazing this field alongside three of this year’s sock lambs. After working with sheep throughout lockdown I want to buy a small flock of breeding ewes. Unfortunately I can’t do this until I can secure another piece of grazing land to rent. Sadly there doesn’t seem to be much land out there. Ashford Borough Council doesn’t have any grazing land available. My other goal is to get my tractor license which I hopes to do when I turns 16 in January 2021.
