7 things I learnt from leaving the farm....
Hindsight is a great thing. It can provide clarity on complex situations. And it's only with the benefit of hindsight that I can actually write this post.
Most of you will know that I don't actually live on the family farm in South West Scotland. I'm based in Windsor with my wife and kids*.
Through social media I hear from a lot of people struggling to work out their future. With an unlimited amount of choice, many wonder what exists beyond the farm.
I was one of those people and so, for what it's worth, here are 7 things I have learnt from leaving the farm**:
- Don’t ever feel a sense of duty to take over the farm. It’s your duty to follow your passion
- There is a whole world of different stuff out there and it’s always good to experience different things
- Don’t ever concern yourself with what others think - do what makes you happy (I'll admit, this one comes easier with age)
- Linked to the above - there is no right or wrong decision. Don’t think about it as making a good or bad choice. Think about it as making a different choice.
- Farming is great but doing other stuff is great too
- Stop holding onto the past - farming is changing and your experiences won’t be the same as previous generations. Always be looking for new ways to do things
- There are pros and cons of every decision. There are benefits of living on the farm and benefits of living off it. Ultimately you need to do what makes you happy.
These 7 points are an incredibly quicks summary of my thoughts over the past 15 years. It remains one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make.
But I think the decision to leave the farm has given me a better appreciation of farming and what it has to offer. It's also given me an appreciation of what else is out there.
For anyone in a similar situation, point 3 is the most important. Do what makes you happy.
Until next week.....
*The reason why this weeks post is late! I was on baby siting duty yesterday and with routine up in the air I completely lost track of time. No one is perfect....least of all me!
**Just to be clear, I'm still very much involved with the family farm and with the industry in general. I just don't live on the farm. There seemed to be a bit of confusion on TikTok when I mentioned this!