When it comes to farming no one knows the challenges ahead better than the young generation of farmers across the country getting ready to step into the forefront of the industry –and challenge for the top prizes in ploughing.
For most young farmers agriculture is a way of life but the changing nature of the business means they won’t all be able to pursue their chosen career full time.
But it’s not just the commercial side of the business the young farmers are making a name for themselves in.
We speak to two lads ahead of the 74th Northern Ireland International Ploughing Championships who are making a name for themselves throughout the competitive circles.
David Jamison
Ballycastle dairy and arable farmer David Jamison has been ploughing since he was 13, after years seeing his father behind the tractor wheel.
Now the 19-year-old is stepping up to build on his achievements and experiences to date.
The Ballycastle man’s passion for ploughing comes not only from his family’s interest, but the need for precision.
“The skill of ploughing itself really is something of its own,” he said. “It demands great skill and concentration.”
But for David the added benefit of meeting new people and new friends is an added bonus.
His career ploughing has had many notable highlights.
“I have competed at many local matches throughout the season as well as the Northern Ireland International Match which is coming up again at the end of this month,” David said.
“In 2014 I also competed at the All Ireland Championships gaining second place in the Under 28’s class.
“My most recent and greatest achievement was in August this year when i had the Opportunity to travel to Switzerland to compete in the European Reversible Contest.
“On day one I ploughing grassland finishing in third place behind two very experienced ploughmen from the Republic of Ireland and going on to finish sixth overall at European level.
“This was an excellent trip, the experience and knowledge i gained from the 4 days ploughing will help me improve further.”
Working on a busy farm means like many who are stepping up to the ploughing challenge practice is crammed in, not to mention the weather, but David has the determination and drive to achieve much more as he sets on continuing the family farming tradition and compete at the World Farming Championships.
Peter Allen
With the Northern Ireland International Match coming to his hometown of Donaghcloney 16-year-old student Peter Allen has another opportunity to add to his considerable successes.
As well as studying welding and fabrication at the South East Regional College site in Lisburn he helps out at his grandfather’s beef, suckler herd and arable farm.
His fire to take up ploughing came to him as soon as he watched.
“I was then showed how to set up a plough and immediately became interested,” he explains. “I was then asked to plough in Junior class at Hillsborough Vintage Ploughing Match, finishing second.”
Peter Allen
From there he has been honing his skills and expanding his knowledge of ploughing.
Peter has competed in all novice, vintage and classic classes over the past two years and is progressing to intermediate this season.
He outlines some of his achievements to date: “I have won the six nations in Carlow last September and won classes in Mullahead. I have also won a number of classes over the past season at a number of ploughing matches.”
When not studying or practicing ploughing Peter pitches in at the farm
“I feed cattle, spread slurry, put out dung, cut grass, topping, working with arable crops and a whole lot more!”
While he acknowledges the tough work involved in farming and is developing a future career Peter one day wants to have a farm of his own.
With his success – and the recent winning of an opportunity to compete in Germany – came the realisation is even his friends who aren’t farmers and don’t plough are keen to hear all his results, acknowledging the difficulty of the sport.