Many will know Will Young as Farmer Will, the farming TikTok sensation. His social media has blown up and it has since seen him become of farming's most loved characters. What is he really passionate about though? In this Farmers Guardian podcast, online editor Emily Ashworth pays Will as visit, to talk about education, family farming and the passion he has for the industry - and showing it for what it really is.
Many will know Will Young as Farmer Will, the farming TikTok sensation. His social media has blown up and it has since seen him become of farming's most loved characters. What is he really passionate about though? In this Farmers Guardian podcast, online editor Emily Ashworth pays Will as visit, to talk about education, family farming and the passion he has for the industry - and showing it for what it really is.
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Will is actually the sixth generation to farm, and he's certainly going to carry this legacy on well into the future. So I am here with Farmer Will to talk about all things farm life. It's nice to finally be here because it's taken a while to get in the diary. Yes. Absolute pleasure, obviously. Thank you. And just for anybody who actually doesn't know, can we talk a little bit about your farm background and maybe a little bit of history to the farm? Because you're obviously a sixth generation farmer. Yeah, Yeah, I am a sixth iteration farmer in the farm has been here since like 1850s. And if I take you way, way back, Gilbert was the one. GILBERT My great, great, great granddad was the one that came to the farm, bought the farm and then actually built the farmhouse, which is behind us now. Okay. And back then it was all kind of like dairy, a little bit of beef and sheep, but it was. I'm talking about like 20 animals of each real small scale. And as the years went on, they I guess everyone tried different things. And this was predominately a dairy farm and so were all of the farms in the village just to dairy. And it got to about like 2000 when you had the the Milk Crush prize and everything like that. And then my dad's either got put in a position where it was like, sell the farm or diversify and we got rid of the cattle. We used to have a farm there which got sold for property just so you could get the farm up and running again almost. And now we've just, as you can see behind just all these beautiful. But that's the interesting thing, isn't it? Because actually, you know, obviously you, you know, prolific on social media and you have been for quite a while. But that history is something that our industry, you know, it's quite unique in that sense. Definitely no 100%. And I think there is I think there needs to be more support for for family farms. If I just take you within my village here, there used to be 12 family farms back when my dad was my age and now there's only two. And that's all down to not having the right support. The economic pressures, everything like that for farmers to just have to pack up because, you know, at the end of the day, they are losing money. Yeah. In terms of what you guys run here then and who who who runs the farm alongside yourself and what what livestock have you got. So it's it's been me and my dad for kind of like all my life since since I came back. So I came back around when I was 17 years old and my brother wanted the high life, moved to London. Then I worked there for like ten years. But since the start of the year when I went onto the show, my brother came back farming. And then at the moment it's just me, my me, my brother and my dad. And it's like all the family, all the families back together. That's so nice, because actually, you know, you talk about your history. You talked about the change in farming here, but also in the, you know, in the landscape around you. And actually people listening who are in farming will probably kind of, you know, recognize that within their own story as well. So I think that's really nice. And in terms of you in social media, obviously, you know, pre Love Island. Yeah you were you were still political social media and and what I liked about it was, yes, you were of course having fun, but actually you were really talking about farming and processes on farm and how you, you know, look after the animals and the welfare, of course. So connecting to the consumer is something that you've managed to do because I imagine a lot of your followers are from non-farm, you know, farmers. Yeah, and farmers. How well, number one, do you feel a bit of kind of a responsibility, you know, as a farmer to be able to deliver our messages. And number two, and why is it important for us to make that connection? For me, I don't think it's, I guess, like a responsibility because I feel like if it's like a responsibility, there's always like pressure, you know, it's for me. So when I started going on social media happening, like complete chance, I didn't plan to do a video. I would actually send my friends videos on like Snapchat, just like real casual, you know, real cool, just, oh, this is what I'm doing. So and it was actually one of my friends that was like, put it on. So she like, put it on TikTok. And I was like, oh, you know, I don't know. Scary place. Social media can be, you know, rural farmers, of course, all know 100% because the real scary place. I even had a conversation with my dad about it and I said I and I and, you know, being the generation he is. No, no. But it was a video of me lambing a sheep. And I thought, oh, what's the worst that can happen? And I posted on and it blew up, went viral. People and people loved it, although there was a couple of negative comments. And I think you're just going to get that in any sort of social media. A lot of the response was, Oh my God, this is great. We love seeing this. What else happens? You know, loads of different questions. So from that point I was like, oh my God, the you know, there's a niche. People do want to to find out more. And then I just carried on from, from there and just kept going up. And it was a lovely way, like you said, to connect non farmers to farming because I think mostly what people do is go into a supermarket, buy the foods, and that's all the connection that they have with food. So it was quite nice filming what we do with film and what I do on the farm. So and I guess the process, what we do with the animals, what treatments we do birthing and what we do all year round, just I guess to make that bond a little bit closer and trying to bring the gap closer between farmers and and non farmers and just out of interest like do you get questions directed to you, you know, from social media, from people outside farm into the questions about what you're doing and why are you doing it. Of course, yeah, yeah, yeah. When I do the videos I try to make it is simplistic as possible because any farmer watching would know exactly what's happening. I wouldn't even need to talk and they would know what's happening and is trying to create a way of how would you show someone something if you're trimming a foot without using kind of like the difficult wording. So that's why I refer to them as like boys and girls and come to my salon and get your toenails trimmed. And it's just real simple, just real simple so anyone can understand. And I think the most amazing thing is it's not is not specific to anyone. You know, you could be a child or, you know, you could be an elderly person. You don't need to know anything about farming and you can still learn and you can educate yourself and have fun while watching it. Because agriculture was such a big proportion of the world. Everyone eats, you know, everyone does. And it's so important that people do understand where food comes from. This leads me on perfectly really to my next question, which is about, you know, you you as a young farmer, people actually don't realize, especially, you know, you going through school or college, what agriculture can offer is fun. There's loads of opportunities and actually you can showcase that to a lot of the younger generation. 100%. Yeah, that that's like the main thing. I think there's a real stereotype of a farmer. Yeah. And this is what I always say. I'll go a day old man. Yeah, I would say I think when someone thinks of a farmer union, of a, you know, an old man in his well he's covered in mud sort of thing but it's not, it's so much more than that. And then that's the great thing with social media. A lot of the younger generation are on on it now showcase farming, which is great. You know, there's so many people and it is just trying to change that stereotype that anyone could be a farmer, you know, and it's not as bad as everyone thinks, you know, And it's just for me, this is something that I do love about it. It brings you close to nature. You know, I'm not inside. I'm not focusing on what's happening outside of it. It's, you know, you're out in the fresh air with the animals enjoying life. Yeah, well, there's a lot of tunnels that come off agriculture as well as in this project. So all encapsulating, if you will not. Yeah. Also, agriculture isn't farming like a farmer. I think that's also what people think. When you think of agriculture, you think of a farmer, but that's not the case. There's so many different routes like moving. All that kind of vibe is really stereotype. Yeah, you've got to crossover, but there's so, so many different rules that you can go down into. Okay, in terms of, you know, breaking down barriers. And the next one is something that's a huge topic at the moment, which is climate change. And you've done some fantastic videos recently talking about that. Yeah. And you know, trying to kind of break those misconceptions down. So using your social platform to do that, you know, that's a real positive for us 100%. It was a little like experience of a lifetime. Yeah, no, not ever. Did I imagine I could travel to Kenya and Scotland, and for me, even working on a farm, one of my neighbor farms is just down the road. I love the kids with me and all my knowledge, and I always say this I've learned from my dad. I didn't go to college and go to university learning agriculture. I learned from him and he learned from his dad. So if you if I'm being completely honest in my my, my knowledge on farming is very limited. So being able to go to these different places abroad and broaden my knowledge is absolutely incredible. And it was so amazing to go to Edinburgh first where I got to see how that dairy unit works, where they are trying to be more climate, a climate safe and climate smart by the methane that comes out of the catalyst, which is just really, really amazing. And then going to Kenya and looking at their climate smart villages and how to make the right most economic but safe decisions. It was. And I just feel like every farm, including this one, every farm around the world, can do something a little bit more to be climate smart, because at the end of the day, we are the future. This is the future now sort of thing, and we do need to look after it. I think that to me as well, it comes back to the whole career thing as well. Like, you know, as a young person interested in science and the environment, you know, there are jobs in this industry for people who want to take action against climate change. And that's an amazing opportunity for somebody. I think, you know, that is amazing. We need to get it taught in school. We need it taught in schools. If everyone's watching, they get it in schools. But honestly, I think I the more I think about it, the more crazy it sounds to me that it's not taught in school. I guess I go to is just such a big scale. All of what happens day to day and I would love to be in a position to and for that for everyone else to be in a position where it is taught in school up until, let's say year nine. And then when you do decide what subjects you want to do, if it's not for you, fine. But at least you've had that offer come to you because to be completely honest, again, if I didn't come from a family farm, I don't think I would farm because for me, I didn't know if it was an option. Yeah, I think that's the case for a lot of a lot of children coming up. You know, they they don't know if it's an option. So why you're not going to do outreach? No one was doing outreach at school. Do you know what I mean? You do what's kind of like what you're told. Yeah. And what you learn sort of thing. I think the key word is choice, isn't it? Yeah. You know, kind of across the whole conversation about agriculture, it's choice. We can have discussions. Let's tell everyone the facts that schoolchildren are having conversations, I don't know, around a dinner table. Yes, it's a choice. So. Yeah. Okay. Well, you know, going off that if you could tell a consumer was right here, right now, what would you say? Are you looking at you and what what would you want to tell them? Like if there is one misconception or there's just one thing that you would like everybody to know about agriculture, what would it be? Oh, what would it be? I think get Well, this is what I would I would love to love to be in a position and this farm to be in a position. If you are a consumer and you've never been on a farm or stepped foot on a farm or have that knowledge about farm, I would actually go and have that experience and see because I do, I generally do think that our culture is kind of on a place on its own, and then you've got like the rest of society and that there is almost like a divide. And then I guess the main thing and what we want is that to be a one and in it's got to be starting from, I guess, the consumers to ask questions, you know, be curious what does happen and get the answers. Because I think with the support of the agricultural as a whole, when everybody is on board, it will just make the industry a lot better place. Yeah. More powerful. Yeah, well, powerful. That's what I'm looking for. Well, it's hard, isn't it? Because it almost feels like we are trying to do everything we possibly can. And whether that be for, you know, carbon emissions or telling the public our story because we're being told that consumers want an environmental backstory. And so it kind of feels like we are doing everything that we possibly can to do the right thing. And now it just needs to grow up in wider society. Really. Yeah, definitely. And I think any farmer who is watching this, you going to take credit because I know a lot of the time it's like, what else can I do? What more can I do? But you never kind of like, sit back like I've done so much. Let's say, in the last ten years, just to almost give yourself a pat on the back and how far the farm has come. Like, for example, our farm, we don't use any fertilizer and it it's all kind of natural grass fed animals and we've just got sheep sort of thing. But we're trying to do I know we can do more, but it's kind of like take taken a step back and be like, Oh, you've, you've done a lot already and I guess a lot of farmers who would be listening should kind of like take that advice and be just think what you have done. I don't think would do that very well. Stepping back and looking down, you know, especially all do doing so. That's a really good point actually, because farming is all consuming. So you can quite understand why people don't do that. But you're completely right. So yeah, so is there anything that we can talk about here on the farm that you do, you know, environmental wise and habitat wise? Yeah, for sure. So I think the government have set up quite a lot of schemes for farmers to get into. And for example, with with our with our farm, we're in a couple of schemes which preserves hedgerows. We would just put a fence in each side. And then also there's a little pieces of ground on the farm which are cut off where the livestock can't get into for I guess, habitats to see live there and for nature to grow and things like that. You would see if we went onto the farm and looked in the corner of the field is the only piece that looks wild. It's just completely overgrown. It looks crazy. So we've talked about your history behind the farm. It's a real family unit. You've obviously got strong ties, you know, way back. And what is it that you love about being a farmer? What do you love about the farmer? Well, what do I love? I love absolutely everything. I think I think grown up for me, I was maybe in a little bit of a different situation than maybe other people, because when if I just take you back to when my dad was like two or three, my granddad put the wellies on in conflict, kicked him out the door and was I, you're going to be a farmer. So with me my brother, he took a completely different approach and almost pushed us away and was like, go out, get an education, see, see what you want to do so we could make our own decisions. And I always loved the farm, you know, during my school breaks or holidays or after school or school before school, I'd always be out on the farm helping out sort of thing. And then it got to the point when I was like 70 miles out to my dad, I was like, Oh, we want a wagon, let me sort of thing. But for me, the thing that I love is actually being out with nature, being out with these animals, because you do form form connections with the animals and farmers do love their animals. They do, although some people don't agree, I can assure you, you line up ten farmers and they all love the animals dearly. And then that's that was the biggest thing for me. You know, there's I take so much pride and joy coming out onto the farm, seeing the animals and having, I guess, that responsibility because you're like their father almost. I'm not their father, you know, looking after them. And secondly, as well, I love working with the family. I love that I've got my granddad next door, I've got my family in the farm house and just I'm so, so close to them. And I think, you know, and that's because I do work for them every day. I see them every day. And you know, that is down to the the family farm. I think that's nice because, you know, a lot of people relate to having that pressure of taking on the reins of the farm to be able for that, to be relieved a little bit and, you know, to come back is, you know, that's what we want to be here. Yeah, Yeah. Both of us has done it, you know, maybe earlier than my brother. But, you know, my brothers worked in London for ten years and kind of, you know, now I want to I want to come back because that was always the plan for me was to go to uni and then live it off a little and then come and then come back afterwards. But I would have only gone to uni because almost my dad said to, not because that's generally what I wanted to do. Yeah. Then since coming back we haven't really looked back. I could, if you ask me. What would you be doing if you weren't farming? I honestly couldn't tell you. I would have no idea. You are right where you're meant to be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's nice to think that you could, you know, looking back on what you've just told me about the story, and then you, you and you brother and you kind of moving it forward. So imagine it in a hundred years time, for sure. Story is going to be so. Oh, no, 100% is so yeah, it's so and it's so nice. We're all working towards the same goal. We all want the same thing. Yeah, you know, which it was in life. Beautiful thing. So let's talk about because I imagine writing a book probably wasn't something that you maybe ever thought that you would do. Oh, God, no. I did say, Oh, terrible. And when I say terrible, I was horrendous at school, especially English. I wasn't even allowed to take a a foreign language because they were like, You're not good at English. We need to you need to do more English sort of thing. So even fast forward into this time in publishing a book, I just it's still like a pinch me moment source and Tom can't believe it. One achievement. Thank you. What do you you know, what do you want people to get from that book? Do you? Because obviously it's about it's sectioned off, isn't it, and kind of how you run the farm. And so what do you want people to kind of get from reading your book? So that the title, I think, describes it best for me? Yeah. You say it's your book for the Love of my Life, for the love of farming. And it is. It is. It is. I love farming so, so much. And what I do, I do it for everyone. You don't need to understand farming to read it. You know, farmers would probably read it and be like, Oh, this is not right. Well, because I refer to them as like boys and girls. And, you know, we're real easy, simple. Because what I want, what my main outcome is to get non-farm is reading it to be quite honest and get that get them to understand the farm a little bit more and I take you through what I do within a year from season to season, have kind of like experiences that I've faced on the farm. If they're like highs or if they're lows, and then also kind of like touching on important matters within the agriculture industry, like mental health or the economic pressures or anything like that, but still trying to make it a fun and lighthearted book, I think that's exactly what it does, and I think it's just an extension of who you are. So hopefully, yeah. Okay. So just to finish on and I think it would be nice to, like we've said before about farmers and social media, everybody wants to story. It almost feels part and parcel of being a farmer these days, no matter what you do. And to be able to kind of tell your story on social media, whether that's to connect to the consumer or you're selling meat boxes or something like that, what would you say to anybody who because it is a bit of a scary place, Oh, my God, it's terrifying. We can do so much good. Oh, 100%. This is what I always believe. If you believe in yourself, you're doing good. Yeah, it is. And for me, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. And that's how I felt. You know, I didn't get 100%, like, great comments. You know, there were there were some negatives, which was absolutely fine. However, everything that I filmed and did on the farm I was proud of and I loved and I knew what I was doing was good, which that that gave me the motivation, you know, to carry, to carry on. And people do want to watch and find out, you know, I've got a sheep farm and I, I bet you someone else on social media would have exactly the same sheep, but would do it completely different. I've stole I've stolen things off of social media, too, for this farm. You know, for example, like during lambing, I saw a farmer actually bring real cold, wet lambs into his house and bought them. And last year, I mean, my dad saw it and we tried it and it wasn't an absolute treat. You know, it's such a great place to to learn, you know, to learn things. I love that because that is what farming is, isn't it? It's so communal. Yeah. There's not many areas of society that you still get that these days. You kind of look over the farm gate, What, what, what are they doing? And then to be able to kind of knowledge exchange is actually really important. So I'll get your farmers down down around this area to steal ideas. They know when I come in the farm will come in. Oh. Oh, good. I steal from. So that's what it's all about. Anything. See, 100%. It was really lovely to talk about some of these things that will he's really passionate about and we are certainly on board when it comes to championing things like education and consumer connection. This is part of what our fantastic campaign farming can is all about. So if you want to learn more about getting involved, head to farmer's guardian dot com forwards slash farming can. This is the last episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast of 2023 and we have finished on a high. So that's it for this week. Thanks for listening and Happy New Year.