From vet to dairy farmer: a unique route into agriculture

Devon dairy farmer Holly Atkinson believes that different routes into farming should be encouraged and that varied talent and fresh perspectives are critical to building a resilient future for the industry.

Although she was raised in a rural area, Holly was not born into the industry. Instead, her first real experience of farming came when she began working on farms from the age of 15 to gain experience before applying to vet school.

This early exposure to a wide range of farming work made her fall in love with the industry. “I realised I could be a part of this world without owning a farm and without it being in my blood,” she says.

Holly Atkinson © Tesco

A different route

Holly went on to study veterinary science and worked as a vet for eight and a half years.  After having her first child, she began helping out on a local farm, which led to her managing youngstock on a 600-cow spring block calving dairy unit.

What she expected to be temporary became a six-year role.

“The farm had a significant pneumonia problem in calves, which I turned round. It was really satisfying, as I could use my veterinary skills, see the whole process through and then see the positive impact.”

Earlier this year, Holly and her husband took the plunge and applied for a Devon County Council farm tenancy.

Seeing beyond the farm gate

For Holly, a key concern when she took on the tenancy was whether she had the right tools and network to successfully navigate the industry given her less conventional route into the industry

To help overcome this, Holly applied for the Tesco Future Farmer Programme after seeing a post about it on Facebook.

The programme, which has just been extended for another three years in partnership with Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming, aims to support the next generation of British farmers by providing practical experience, expert insight and a valuable network of peers across the industry.

“One of the biggest benefits was gaining visibility of the full food supply chain. It was eye-opening to see how every step in the process works, from farmers out in the field through to marketing and then through to shop floor,” she says.

As a dairy farmer, Holly says it’s easy to focus on what happens up to the point milk leaves the farm, but the programme helped her think about what happens next, including what consumers want, how products are presented and how other farmers approach similar challenges.

© Tesco

Building resilience

For Holly, the programme gave her confidence at a critical moment. Its focus on sustainability, professionalism and forward thinking has also reinforced the direction she and her husband want to take their business to become as resilient as possible.

They are now applying her learnings to build on their existing plans around improved soil health, herbal leys, better grazing, water infrastructure and greater use of trees and hedges to help the farm cope with hotter, drier summers.

Holly, like many farmers, is acutely aware of the climate challenges facing the industry and believes farmers must do everything they can to future proof their farms.

“Everyone can have a good year and do well, but I think it’s finding ways to make your business resilient so you can thrive in the tough seasons as well,” she says.

Fresh perspectives

Holly believes her own route into farming shows why the industry should continue to look beyond traditional entry points, even as she recognises the enormous value of knowledge passed down through farming families.

“Getting new people in, they can bring a fresh perspective,” she says. “For me, I have more of a consumer perspective, so I query things, rather than just saying, ‘this is how it’s always been done’.”

For Holly, part of the answer is showing young people from an early age that farming is a viable, rewarding and exciting career, and not just something to fall back on.

Holly’s journey shows the importance of bringing a wide range of perspectives and expertise into the industry to help it thrive in the future.

Apply now for the 2026/27 Future Farmer Programme.