I was always coming down to my grandparentsÂ’ farm in the school holidays and was always keen to take over the farm from Nan and Grandad one day.
They bought the 32-hectare farm 22 years ago. They rented half of it out and kept between 10 and 15 cows on the other.
Six years ago, I decided I wanted to move down and help run it. Now, I am pretty much doing just that. Every decision that gets made is down to me now.
We did not have any sheep until I moved down here, and we now run 350 ewes alongside a suckler herd of pedigree South Devon cattle. I am looking to push 400 ewes eventually.
Grandad had owned a herd of South Devons since buying the farm and I wanted to keep them and carry it on.
Working with Grandad can be quite frustrating at times, but throughout the whole process they have done nothing but support me. I could not have asked for more from them.
My aim as I get older is to sell bulls and improve the stock we are selling, and try and make a bit of a name for myself.
I also work on a beef and sheep farm about 15 miles away, which I have worked on since I moved down. I am hoping I will be able to come home and farm at home more in the future but I will be reluctant to leave them as I think of them as family.
It is tough being a young person in farming. I cannot think of too many people who are doing what I do.
My parents are not farmers at all so we have basically skipped a generation.
It is tough on your mental health.
Farming would be easy if it were not for the worry of money. Cashflow is the most important thing. If you have not got a consistent flow of cash, things stop.
We are not in a bad position but you do not see it that way.
I used Farming Community Network (FCN) a couple of years ago. It is a charity which means a lot to me. A lot of my friends have used FCN too. When we do things at Young Íæż½ã½ã we always try to raise money for FCN.
My friends are there for me and that is the most important thing. I am constantly on the phone to my friends, even to talk about other rubbish.
It is just me, Nan and Grandad here. You get quite tied to the farm, especially at lambing time. It is hard at times but I find talking to people helps.
