Georgina Mitchell-Jones: The double life of a farmer’s daughter

Whenever I mention in my 9-5 office job that I’m a farmer’s daughter, the reaction is almost always the same. An initial taken aback expression, followed by a curious: “Oh, I didn’t know. What do you farm?”

What follows is a clumsy crash course in agriculture. I explain the difference between store and finished cattle, that sheep don’t spend all year looking like fluffy white clouds, and that farming isn’t always quite like Clarkson’s Farm.

See also: Georgina Mitchell-Jones – we should cut ourselves a bit of slack

About the author

Georgina Mitchell-Jones

Georgina Mitchell-Jones, 24, graduated with an MA in Politics from the University of Edinburgh. A farmer’s daughter from south Leicestershire, she is particularly interested in the pressures shaping the next generation of farmers. She is an active member of Lutterworth Young Farmers’ Club, where she has been Treasurer for the past two years.

Read more articles by Georgina Mitchell-Jones

It’s a conversation I’ve had countless times, but one I never really mind. Those conversations make me think about a growing group of young people who, like me, straddle two very different worlds.

Many young people grow up expecting to work on their family farm, but the reality is very different to our parents’ generation.

Tight margins, changing policies and uncertain futures mean that for many families, there simply isn’t enough guaranteed business to support another generation full-time.

As a result, more young people are building careers elsewhere.

My working week often illustrates that. On Friday, I’m finishing a financials spreadsheet in the office. By Saturday, I’m wool wrapping for the shearers.

On Sunday, I’m helping Dad sort cattle passports, and by Monday morning I’m back creating presentations for senior leadership.

Sometimes it feels like living a double life. Two identities, two wardrobes and two very different types of conversations.

Moving between farming and the corporate world has made me realise how transferable the skills developed on a farm really are. Resilience is second nature. Problem-solving happens daily.

You learn to manage relationships, make decisions under pressure, understand fluctuating markets and appreciate the value of hard work.

They’re qualities that are as valuable in a boardroom as in a livestock market. Both worlds demand commitment, adaptability and determination.

Being a farmer’s daughter in 2026 means being a family secretary, an extra pair of hands at busy times and a regular companion at the cattle market.

It means building a career beyond the farm while never really leaving it behind. And it means appreciating both worlds and recognising that each has something valuable to teach the other.