The young sheep farmer bridging the urban-rural gap

City-born Gareth Staples-Jones is one of the NFU’s new Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors, and he is determined to make his mark in agriculture.

Having been brought up in a terraced house in Manchester, but now running a sheep enterprise, Gareth reckons he’s got “a foot in both camps” when it comes to the town-country divide.

This was part of the reason the 24-year-old was keen to become an Ambassador – he wants to do his bit to bridge the urban-rural gap.

See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2021 – Young Farmer of the Year

“I’ve always been interested in the outdoors, but never considered a career in agriculture,” says the history graduate, who worked for a logistics company after leaving the University of Salford.

“I grew up surrounded by city people who saw beef and lamb on the shelves, but never considered how it got there. I didn’t even know agricultural colleges existed.”

During the first lockdown, Gareth and his girlfriend, Grace Collinson – whose parents had been farmers before they retired – hatched a plan to get a few sheep.

“As a young person, there aren’t that many opportunities to have your own business.

“We also wanted one we could run together, and one that involved being outside and ideally working with animals. Farming combined it all,” he says.

Gareth Staples-Jones with girlfriend Grace Collinson © Gareth Staples Jones

Rented land

“We spent six months looking everywhere and anywhere for a scrap of land.

“Eventually, we realised we wouldn’t be able to find any, so we rented the 42 acres that Grace’s parents kept when they got out of farming.

“The sad reality is that, if it hadn’t been for them giving us this opportunity, we simply wouldn’t have been able to get a foot on the ladder.

“It does sometimes feel as if all the cards are stacked against you. We can’t, for example, even apply for many of the grants.

“You have to buy the kit first to get the grant, and we simply can’t raise the capital.”

The couple’s fledgling sheep enterprise has expanded and, next year, they’ll have 60 ewes, running alongside a lamb-box scheme. 

Gareth also works full-time for NFU Mutual, in tandem with roles as a local councillor and with the Army Reserves. Meanwhile, Grace works full time at an animal sanctuary.

“Sadly, our farming isn’t at a scale to be our sole jobs yet, but that’s our aspiration,” he says.

His army endeavours have highlighted the general lack of knowledge about the countryside.

“When I talk about what I do to some of the lads, it’s as crazy to them as somebody going to the moon! They can’t get their heads round it.

“But there are people in rural areas who know nothing about city life and don’t understand the practicalities and realities of jobs there. It’s important that information flows both ways.”

Gareth says the new generation in agriculture has a key role to play communicating important messages.

“More than ever, farmers nowadays have to be more transparent about what they do with their land and animals.

“It’s not a case of justifying your existence, but explaining the facts, because the public are questioning all aspects of the supply chain.”

Transferable skills

As a former Navy reservist – and now holding a similar position with the Army – he’s noticed an overlap of the skills of those in the military and those in farming.

“A lot of it is about problem-solving – but both careers attract people who just want to get on and get a task done.

“There’s a time to plan a task, talk about it and take advice, but, ultimately, you and your team have to just do it!

“I wish the Army recruited more from rural areas. A lot of young farmers are skilled mechanics by the age of 18 – and the army needs people like that.

“Country people also understand land and their navigation skills are often on-point.”

Gareth’s time with the services has given him great opportunities to travel to the US, around the Baltics and across much of Europe.

Fantastic as this was, it was surpassed by the satisfaction of lambing for the first time.

“That was whirlwind; an emotional rollercoaster. But taking a lamb through from birth to the point we could sell it as a top-quality product felt like a big achievement.”

Gareth’s also proud of the work he and Grace have done on the land – they’ve encouraged public access and are planning to plant hedgerows and trees.

“Farming’s not without its challenges, of course. One of the first things I learned was that sheep are constantly trying to kill themselves!

“But if there’s a topic I don’t know much about, I want to find out more – and master it.

“You have to be confident and transparent, and stick with your dream even if people tell you it’s not going to work because there are plenty of people who will say that.

“Just do it, though – you make a few mistakes, learn and move on.”

Ever-keen to learn, Gareth’s joined a Young Farmers’ Club as a way of networking and meeting people and sees the NFU Ambassador position as a great chance for personal development and learning. 

“Grace and I are constantly looking things up on the internet and watching ‘how-to’ YouTube clips, but there’s no better way of learning in farming than listening to the older generation.

“Ultimately, we’ve all got two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.”