Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2013 | Page 35

INTERVIEW

Pictures by Laura Boynton

which has gone from around 250
dairy farmers to just 17. That is a
big concern. But there are a lot more
energy crops grown on the Island now,
because people are looking at energy
for the grid as something to farm,
including solar and biomass.”
Caroline is always looking to educate
people – both young and not so young
– on the importance of farming. She
explained: “The NFU educate people
really well. There is a road show
called ‘Let’s Talk Farming’ which goes
around all the County Shows and talks
farming to children. Some 500,000
children have seen it so far, so it does
play a massive role in education. I like
the whole education thing.

“If people know what we are
doing and why we are doing it, then
hopefully they will listen more. That
message is being carried into schools
so the ‘next generation’ understands
farming is more about just driving a
tractor or mucking out pigs – there are
huge skill factors involved.
“There are people who are passionate
about the farming industry, but don’t
know how to apply that passion. They
might be very clever but worry about
how they present themselves. At the
recent AGM of the Island NFU a
‘next generation’ promotion attracted
some 70 people in their teens and 20s,
underlining there are people out there
who care about farming and want to

be involved.”
Caroline feels it is imperative the
NFU keeps its IW branch, fearing that
if it merged with Hampshire it would
fall by the wayside. “That is why I
passionately believe we must keep
our branch active, and that doesn’t
just mean having lots of meetings.
By being active members and being
involved we can grab the ideas that
work best for the Island,” she said.
Caroline will serve for another two
years before she hands over to another
female chair person, Louise Hart. She
added: “Louise will do an excellent
job, but I would like to