Jessica Rippon said food needs to be regarded as a national asset in its value and importance to the country
What attracted me to a career in farming was my love and passion for the countryside.
As someone who did not come from a farming background, the joy and memories I made living in rural Nottinghamshire, near Cropwell Bishop, have served a valuable purpose in inspiring me to join the farming community.
What I love most about farming is the connection farmers have to our food system and the countryside.
Farmers are so important in our lives and we should never take them for granted.
I started working on farms in the surrounding area at around 14 years old because I loved animals.
Witnessing first-hand the care and attention farmers give to their livestock was really inspiring to see and was something I continued in my way of working.
I was the former chair at Cropwell Young Farmers' Clubs which was an amazing experience.
The industry should be doing even more to promote the clubs to young farmers, because they offer a wide-range of benefits in terms of the social and educational aspect.
Agriculture played a key part in my education too at college and university.
I could not wait to attend the University of Nottingham and study agriculture.
The experiences I had drew me very close to the science behind farming and how it can be pivotal in developing and enhancing the industry even further.
After I finished studying, I was still working on farms, but found it very difficult and challenging due to the Covid restrictions at the time.
I did some surveying for a period which was really enlightening, but there was still a sense I had not found the right career for me.
As is usually the case, I really fell into farm consultancy where I help farmers with grant schemes including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship.
I do not believe farmers should have to face the weight and cost of changing their farms to implement these schemes into their businesses.
I try and provide practical advice to ensure farmers are making money by becoming more sustainable without the hefty costs. 听听听听听听听听听听
Farmers are still facing some huge challenges at the moment including mental health.
Despite all the fantastic work the industry is doing, there is still a stigma associated with mental health in the industry due to the limited social aspect of the job and the long hours.
With the worry around financial support, farmers need to keep being supported by the Government in growing food.
Food production needs to be recognised as a national asset to this country.
