While at agricultural college, I visited an agritourism business which really inspired me to think about how we could diversify at home. Since moving home from college, I realise that in order for me to live and work on our family farm we need to diversify. I am the 3rd generation on the farm and 3 generations making a living from one farm alone is not possible. I now work as a contract farmer and I breed my own Highland cattle and cross cattle as well as black cheviot sheep.
Plans are in place to open our own food van, using our own produce and supporting as many other local businesses as possible. I am a contract farmer and a keen baker so selling my baking in the food van would give me another income stream. We also hope to employ local people in an area where there is limited options for employment.
Attending the Global Agritourism Conference will help to build my knowledge and to bring back ideas to my family to help us grow our business. I hope that our business diversification will help to support our family business and add value to our produce. Following this, we have spoken about developing farm stays for people to stay and learn about our farm.
I am a committee member of north argyll young farmers as well as being the Mull representative and I volunteer for RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) as a young ambassador and am very passionate about educating people about agriculture.