Different ways of being a farmer

Gaining perspective on your farming business

Originally from New Zealand, Laura Awdry’s farming journey in the UK began in Wiltshire, where she and husband Sam started building their own business. Laura began contract calf rearing, which provided a foundation for understanding the dairy-beef sector.

“I rented a shed from my father-in-law and started contract calf rearing. It meant I could raise our children while also building a knowledge base,” she explains. 

Over time, this experience gave Laura and Sam the confidence to put together their own business plan and apply for farm tenancies. Two years ago, they secured a Duchy of Cornwall tenancy and now manage a mixed beef farm operation focusing on suckler beef, calf rearing and grassland management.

In addition to farming, Laura works for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) as a knowledge exchange manager for the dairy sector in the South West. Taking on this role off the farm has helped provide a stable income, while also bringing in a valuable sense of perspective for their own business. 

“It’s been a mindset shift. I always thought Sam would work off-farm while I ran things at home, but the opposite happened.” 

Discipline and structure have helped to ensure Laura is successful in both her on and off-farm roles: “I’ve learned now that setting boundaries and knowing what you can and can’t do is really important as time isn’t infinite and there are definitely only 24 hours in a day.”

Starting from scratch

For first-generation farmers, Rhian and Jack Marchant, the path to farming was anything but conventional. They started out grazing water buffalo on Jack’s parents’ smallholding, with limited land and resources. “It was a struggle,” Rhian says. “We never had enough space or grazing, but without that opportunity, we wouldn’t be here now.”

The couple has since taken on a farm tenancy near Truro, where they rear a mix of livestock, including ducks for eggs, sheep, and water buffalo. “Getting a tenancy is tough so we wanted to stand out,” Jack explains. 

Water buffalo have proven to be a good fit for their system. “They’re very docile, and their meat is a great alternative to beef. They also fit well into our grazing system and are relatively low maintenance.

“The ducks also fit into our business plan well. With the water buffalo there is a delay in the money coming in, but the duck eggs provided income almost straight away.”

Jack hopes by sharing their experiences, they can inspire other first-generation farmers, something which was noted when he was named Rising Star in the 2025 Cornwall Farm Business Awards.

Balancing off-farm work

Laura, Rhian, and Jack all juggle multiple responsibilities, demonstrating that diversification is often necessary in today’s farming landscape.

“It’s about prioritising,” Rhian notes. “I work as a veterinary nurse, and Jack’s parents help out a lot on the farm. Without that support network, it would be much harder.”

Laura echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of organisation. “We have a whiteboard at home with everything listed—what the kids are doing, farm tasks, everything. It helps with communication, which is crucial when you’re running a business and a household.”

Off-farm work isn’t just about financial stability; it also provides valuable experience and new perspectives. “You meet different people, see different systems, and bring those ideas back to your own farm,” Jack explains. “That’s how you learn.”

Adapting to survive

With rising costs, farmers are having to think differently about how they operate. Laura emphasises the importance of making informed decisions: “Knowing your costings and data is essential. If you want to try something new, start small. Run a ‘safe to fail’ trial first and if it works, scale it up.”

Rhian points out that adaptability is vital. “Farming is changing. There can be negativity about moving away from traditional methods, but we have to evolve to stay sustainable.”

Jack agrees, encouraging other aspiring farmers not to give up. “You’ve got to do something different these days. Find your niche, keep learning, and push forward.”

Adapting to change was something discussed in a previous episode featuring Graham Eggins, farming on the Isles of Scilly, and Chris Berry, who transformed his farming system to reduce reliance on external inputs.

Opportunities for future farmers

In a bonus episode, the guests explored the opportunities available to aspiring farmers and the importance of building skills and networks in today’s evolving agricultural landscape. Laura emphasises the value of peer-to-peer learning, describing support networks as essential for sharing ideas and gaining confidence. 

She credits courses such as the Future Farmer Programme as transformative for developing business and financial skills, with additional support, including mentoring and funding advice, available for dairy entrants through the Let’s Farm Foundation. 

Rhian and Jack highlight the benefits of external guidance when applying for farm tenancies, particularly with business planning and cash flow forecasts, citing help from Farm Cornwall as invaluable. 

All stress the value to them of connecting with other farmers and using local and online networks to learn, collaborate and grow resilient farm businesses.

Episode showstoppers:

1.     Have a goal in mind and know where you want to end up. But be prepared to start somewhere different and transition to where you want to be. It can be a compromise worth making to achieve your goals and offers a learning opportunity too. 

2.     Believe in yourself and have confidence. Take the leap but ensure you do so in a safe and structured way that allows you to fail and grow. 

3.     Gain perspective. Take opportunities to get off farm, talk to other people, and see what other businesses are doing then bring new ideas new ideas back to your own farm.

Listen to the full episode and bonus below - also available via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.