How Clarkson's Farm is attracting young people to farming
A teenager from Lancashire has described how Clarkson's Farm inspired her to pursue a career in agriculture.
Ellie, 17, comes from a farming background, with her grandparents running a dairy farm near Garstang and her family keeping sheep and cattle at home. She initially planned to take A-levels and pursue a different career, but after watching Jeremy Clarkson's programme, she decided to study farming at college.
She explained, "Jeremy Clarkson has put agriculture in front of everyone in the country. He has shown why agriculture is important in Britain for food production. There is a lot of people want to come into agriculture now."
Another agriculture student, Oliver, who is not from a farming background, echoed this sentiment. He noted that the show's popularity, especially among his peers, has sparked interest in the industry.
"Interest in farming has spiked because Jeremy Clarkson is such a massive influence and isn't from a farming background himself. It shows the side of farming that a lot of people do not see, including the harsh reality." he said.
Rise in Agricultural Education Applications
Myerscough College reports a 30% increase in applications for its agriculture courses, attributing this trend partly to the "Clarkson Effect".
Course tutor David Singleton noted the significant rise in student numbers and the need to increase staffing to accommodate it. "We've probably gone up about 30% since Clarkson's Farm" he said.
He also acknowledged the influence of other farming programmes, like ITV's Fletcher's Family Farm featuring Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, in encouraging young people to consider a career in agriculture.